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Monday Review - Spurs 3 - 6 Liverpool
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It's the Monday Review show and Jesse Sarwar and Connor Norcott go through all the manin highlights of Sunday's Premier League humdinger!
Part 1 - Match highlights and analysis
Part 2 - Player Ratings
Part 3 - the other key PL highlights
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Transcript
Liverpool's Christmas Triumph
00:00:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hello and welcome to the Daily Liverpool Podcast brought to you by the Global Sports Podcast Network. I'm your host, Jesse Sawa. It's the Monday Review Show. Liverpool are top of the Premier League for Christmas. That's the big takeaway after a thrilling game at Spurs. The Reds coming away with all three points after a 6-3 win at the Tottenham Hotspur
Podcast Structure Overview
00:00:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
Stadium. so In today's podcast, in part one, we'll go through all of the main action from Sunday's game, part two, we'll do some player ratings. And in part three, we'll round off the episode with a look at some of the other key games in the Premier League.
Connor Norcott's Return
00:00:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
Joining me on the podcast today to talk about all of that and more is Connor Norcott. How's it going, Connor? I can see plenty of presence there in the the background.
00:01:01
Connor
Yeah, I mean, apart from the the whole wrap and presence, it's been a pretty nice weekend, especially when you consider the results. I'm good, man. I feel like it's been a while since I've been on the podcast, so it's very nice to be back and nice chatting about the reds.
00:01:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
is it to have It's to have
00:01:14
Connor
Yeah.
Importance of Winning After Draws
00:01:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
you back as well.
00:01:15
Connor
Thanks, man.
00:01:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
So the Reds were coming into this game off the back of two successive draws. And with Chelsea and Arsenal closing the gap in the last week or so at the top, this game was looking like a must win.
00:01:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
Conor, I mean, wow, where do we start with with that one? In the words of Ange Postocoglou, are you not entertained?
00:01:39
Connor
I'd love to ask him what he thought about it, but I thought, ah specifically for himself, I thought Liverpool were just like... that's kind of almost the apex of where this Liverpool side, what it what it should look like.
00:01:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:01:50
Connor
Conate aside, obviously, I thought Liverpool were phenomenal. And I just keep, every week there's like a new standout player. I mean, Liverpool play normally every three days. So like every week you get two games to see who the player of the
Dominic Subba's First-Half Performance
00:02:02
Connor
week is going to be.
00:02:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
Oh.
00:02:04
Connor
And I got to say Dominic Subba's like that first half performance, um um everyone was talking about Diaz and Salah, but I just thought his,
00:02:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:02:13
Connor
Finally you're kind of seeing that mix of of his industry in the midfield but also finally getting some end results.
00:02:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:02:20
Connor
I thought he was so good and I thought even when he made a mistake you saw he would get a similar chance next time and and and rectify that mistake. He was phenomenal and I think his intensity kind of summed Liverpool up. I just thought like You kind of need a statement win and it was going that way.
00:02:34
Connor
A statement performance and it was going that way. but You know, it might not have ended that way in my, my point of view, but, but listen, it doesn't matter. Liverpool were top of the league going into the game, but it matters a lot that that performance, what we did against Tottenham, you know?
00:02:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, no. Yeah. I know. i know There's a lot of people that I can already see on social media. It's like, well, you know, it's Tottenham. So, you know, you're going to, you're going to score six, but I don't know.
00:02:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
I just think that the way that the team performed and as you said, that midfield and you know, so Boslite was kind of the spearhead of the press and just that sheer intensity throughout the whole game, not just the first half.
00:02:59
Connor
Mm-hmm.
00:03:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
I thought he was absolutely. It's probably these best performance that I've seen in a Liverpool shirt since, since he's been with us.
00:03:15
Connor
Yeah.
00:03:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
But he was brilliant. But so let's just ah go through that starting lineup.
Lineup Focus: Diaz's Justified Role
00:03:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
Alison was in goal, a back four of Trent Alexander-Arnold, Joe Gomez, Van Dyck, and Andy Robertson, midfield three of Gravenberg, McAllister, and Sir Boslai, and then a front three of Salah Diaz, Gackpo Diaz getting the nod up front in that central position ahead of Nunez.
00:03:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
And you know you've got to say that that decision was fully justified connor by by that performance.
00:03:47
Connor
Yeah. Yeah, I think we were all kind of blown away by his when he first played up front for us against Leverkusen, he scores that hat-trick in the Champions League. And you're thinking, I mean, we all love Lewis Diaz. He probably has the best Liverpool song of any modern player. I think it's amazing. and And you thought, wow, I mean, if you can keep doing this, it's great. And it might not have went that way recently, but today I thought he was sensational. And like, what I like so much about him is that he doesn't just play as like an advanced forward where he's constantly pushing the back forward, back, he'll drop deep, he'll link up.
00:04:24
Connor
He'll play a little one twos with the wingers. I think hit his link up play with Cody Gack but today I thought was really, really, really good. And especially with Subazlai too. I just thought he kind of summed us up to quite a few Liverpool players. You could say did that. I mentioned Subazlai earlier, but Diaz was just like electric. And when he has games like that.
00:04:42
Connor
he kind of looks on like unbeatable. like Nobody's going to stop him. you know And I thought the first goal is such an un it's such a not not a left winger goal. ah But playing up front, it's just like classic number nine play.
00:04:55
Connor
It was it was phenomenal.
00:04:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
It should be a newness kind of goal, right?
00:04:57
Connor
but Yeah.
00:04:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
It should be a newness. And I think that
Diaz's Adaptability Compared to Firminio
00:05:00
Connor
Yeah.
00:05:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
the really, you know, you've touched on a really interesting point there, Connor, about Luis Diaz, because I think one of the really, the really great things about Arnie Slott is the way that he's been able to kind of move some of these players, you know, like a chessboard.
00:05:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
just move some of these players and they put in performances in positions that you think, oh, you know, I really didn't see him playing in that position. Obviously, Gravenberg is probably the the the standout example of that.
00:05:33
Connor
Mm hmm.
00:05:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
But Diaz coming in and into that central position, he now looks like, to me, like a quicker version of Firminio.
00:05:42
Connor
Hmm.
00:05:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
You know, Firminio with pace. which is a it's a frightening combination. and And I think also what it's done, I think is given a real, not a selection dilemma, because I think this is something that slot wants. But I think that it's really given him an idea that that kind of front central striking position is for me now is jotter and Diaz.
00:06:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
And Nunez is a guy now who might have to shift out to the left to provide that width, to provide provide that pace.
00:06:08
Connor
Yeah.
00:06:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
So that, you know, maybe you can just he's he'll be the guy that just gets the assists, but in terms of the goals and the output, it could be Diaz.
00:06:25
Connor
Yeah, I also think you kind of have to consider that it's kind of not something that we've ever seen Diaz do. And and when when you see that that front three line up, if we're talking about last season, and it's immediately GAC post starting through the middle.
00:06:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:06:41
Connor
It's just not Diaz, you know what I mean?
00:06:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:06:43
Connor
And immediately it looks like, oh, well, perhaps Diaz is the the striker that we've been looking for all along. I mean, Liverpool have been linked with strikers all all through the uh the autumn and the winter so maybe we might have found the answer before we even need it to to fix it you know but i'm glad i'm very glad because we've both talked about how frustrating Nunez has been and Jota's you know inability to stay fit has also been bothering us so it's quite nice to have this problem and having players like Jota Nunez coming off the bench Kiesa didn't even get minutes today Elliott comes on Vassala i mean like
00:07:20
Connor
There's just so many options, and everyone's starting to get minutes and starting to bed in. We might take some stopping, but I don't think it was a complete performance from the Reds. I just think we met Tottenham at a very good time, and normally those games are pretty high scoring, pretty high energy, and you kind of saw that today.
First-Half Dominance Recap
00:07:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, you mentioned the goal. I mean, what a cross by Trent. I mean, minutes before that, I mean, the the first, you know, the first kind of few minutes of that game, think it was the first couple of minutes, you know, you saw ah Fraser Foster, you know, he makes an error with the ball at his fate, plays the ball straight to Salah.
00:07:56
Connor
Mm.
00:08:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
And really, instead of going for goal, he's got a he's got a square, it's either so Buzz Light or Diaz who are completely free. And I think in within the first 10 or 15 minutes, he had about four or five shots on goal.
00:08:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
So you could see that he was really, really up for it. I think it so there was a bit of skill that Salah did, which was reminiscent of that goal against City, where he kind of you know he rolls his foot over the ball, hits the bar, and you think, this this one, he's going to score in this goal.
00:08:22
Connor
Yeah. Yeah.
00:08:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
But the first goal, as you said, what a cross by Trent. and then the head of ideas is a real central striker's goal.
00:08:39
Connor
Mm-hmm. It is. And also it's it's not really something we associate with him. If that's the if that's a goal that Jota scores, who was a winger, turn forward, turn whatever Diego Jota is now, you're kind of not surprised, but I really was just by that finish.
00:08:54
Connor
But also sometimes Diaz just has these games where he is, it's like he's up for it. And I think he must have felt, I mean, we could be reading between the lines a bit too much here, but he must have felt like he was really hard done by in that game last year.
00:09:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
and
00:09:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
I was going to say, I know what you're going to say.
00:09:09
Connor
and that he was up for it today and I thought he also has a shot it's either before he scores his first or or a just after on his left foot that Forster dives down to the bottom corner to save and I just thought like when has he ever hit a ball that sweetly with his left he was just on one today and I think if we can oh yeah
00:09:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. Yeah. It definitely felt like definitely felt like he he he he felt like he was ode a goal.
00:09:34
Connor
Yeah, it was like the Louis Diaz revenge tour of the, yeah, it was amazing. I loved it. and long may it continue because the fixtures keep piling up in December and into, into January.
00:09:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:09:45
Connor
And you know what? Our next game might not be the, it might not be the most difficult, but it's always a game when we, when we go to West Ham. So I just think, you know, ah ah Liverpool are, we're in a very nice position right now, but you can only look back on that at the end of the season and hopefully Liverpool keep, keep taking on, you know.
00:09:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:10:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
Absolutely. Well, you could see that, we will talk about, you know, in more detail the kind of individual performances of the players, but Liverpool are is starting to get a lot of joy down the flanks and it's really good to see Robertson and Trent. It's almost like the, know, clop side of old where they're kind of, you know, these kind of a marauding performance where, you know, crosses are coming in.
00:10:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
Midfield I think was really, really, really on top four and they were really restricting the Spurs midfield and really pressing high.
00:10:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
And then around about 35 minutes Liverpool go 2-0 up.
00:10:35
Connor
Mm hmm.
00:10:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
McAllister nods in from from short range but it's Robertson who dinks the ball in after some really good work from Joe Gomez who I'm going to talk about later as well because I thought you know I thought he was outstanding as well but so good to see McAllister, sorry, Robertson getting in on the assist again
00:10:46
Connor
Mm hmm.
00:10:57
Connor
Yeah, I think we've I mean, I probably more than most have been really critical of him. And I think you can forgive the defensive frailties and like his I don't know, he's he's not Trent Alexander Arnold, no fullback in the world is, but he certainly isn't like the most comfortable on the ball. I don't think he's like,
00:11:14
Connor
I don't know. I don't think his in-possession work is as good as it could be. But when you see him get forward like that and start contributing to goals and assists, whether it's the key pass, whether it's great crosses or set pieces, it's so refreshing because that's the Andy Robertson that Liverpool love. yeah it was a great ball and i think he showed a few moments like that i really do going forward or you just think like oh if this is what it looks like when he's not being flogged every 90 minutes every three days you know that's going to be good i was convinced that we were going to see simicast today just because i thought robertson was looking really tired later into the game but again a nice option to have because we were all saying that simicast had kind of played himself into starting contention at left back and now robertson's back and
00:11:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:11:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:11:58
Connor
hopefully putting in similar performances to that. So honestly, everything's kind of coming up Liverpool right now.
00:12:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:12:04
Connor
And I'm really scared to say that because I'm sure there'll be a hurdle at some point, you know, but but yeah, it was good.
00:12:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
inevitably.
00:12:10
Connor
It was really good.
00:12:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
And at 2-0, I mean, we were absolutely flying and that performance, know, you mentioned off air that even Gary Neville was saying that this is probably the most complete kind of half performance, first half performance that he's seen by any team this season.
00:12:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
And just when you think that this could be, you know, it it could turn ugly for Tottenham, very quickly. We kind of shoot ourselves in the foot and really gift spurs a goal. McAllister gets dispossessed, dispossessed about kind of 20, 25 yards out of goal. And, you know, fair play to him Madison, and you know, a neat finish.
00:12:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
And that's kind of five minutes before the halftime break. And you think, you know, we've kind of let them back in it now, the crowd are going to be up, you know, that kind of crucial moment just before the before the halftime break, you know, that that could be something that Spurs can really build on.
00:13:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
But then just five minutes later, I thought this was a fantastic goal by Sir Bosley.
00:13:11
Connor
Mm hmm.
00:13:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
I absolutely loved it. It was a long ball by Trent.
00:13:16
Connor
Hmm.
00:13:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
The flick on is by Sir Bosley. in midfield, who, then Salah runs onto that. He's through on goal. But instead of going for goal, he squares it to who? Sir Bosley, who's continued that run into the box. And, you know, a really, really neat finish. But I just thought that what a great, what a great team goal, especially when you've just conceded as well.
00:13:41
Connor
Yeah, I think it was, it's very reminiscent of like that club transition Liverpool goal.
00:13:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:13:48
Connor
It kind of gave me shades of, I don't know if you remember the kind of attack against West Ham, maybe three or four years ago.
00:13:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
Oh, who doesn't?
00:13:55
Connor
And yeah, well, exactly. And it was just very much like, Oh, it's so nice to see that we still have players that can do this.
00:13:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
Oh.
00:14:02
Connor
And I thought the reverse pass from Salah was just like,
00:14:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. Brilliant.
00:14:06
Connor
weighted so well, the finish from Sir Basel, I was great. The fact that he kind of starts the move from that flick on, yeah I think he deserved that goal.
00:14:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, yeah.
00:14:14
Connor
He really did. I thought he was phenomenal.
00:14:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
Oh, 100%.
00:14:16
Connor
And he he also technically gets the assist, I think, for the the second one that McAllister had, or because he nods it down.
00:14:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think so, yeah. Yeah, exactly.
00:14:23
Connor
So, you know, he it you know it it was the kind of performance that was worthy of a goal and an assist like that. And if you're talking about goals and
Salah's Pivotal Role and Achievements
00:14:31
Connor
assists, Jesse,
00:14:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
Jeez.
00:14:33
Connor
We need to talk about Mo Salah because the guy...
00:14:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
Do we have as a separate podcast together?
00:14:38
Connor
Sorry, yeah, you're right. You're right. we do we Do we? Probably not. He is just... yeah it's It's boring to say that you keep running out of superlatives.
00:14:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
Is this the same conversation every week?
00:14:49
Connor
Yeah, it is. And it's always me and you every time.
00:14:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's the same conversation. Exactly, long may it continue, that's what I'd say. yeah i mean He's on 15 goals now and I think I heard a stat that he's the first player to get 10 goals and 10 assists before Christmas.
00:14:55
Connor
Yeah, you're right.
00:15:06
Connor
Yeah, he is. And also he ah ah that that run of the players to have scoring assisted the most, he just added to that again. He's pulling out, he's now the fourth top goal scorer in Liverpool history.
00:15:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:15:19
Connor
I mean, he really is like a modern day great and it's so rare that you can have these kinds of conversations in the present and not in retrospect, but he deserves all the plaudits.
00:15:30
Connor
He was phenomenal. And I think it's very easy to praise players like Diaz and Sibozle who you see so much of the industry on the pitch because they are everywhere.
00:15:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:15:41
Connor
They're winning every ball, they're playing passes, they're making tackles, you know, they're making interceptions. But I don't know if the Ripple win that game without Salah because he just has the decisive say in every single action.
00:15:54
Connor
And, you know, you can't replicate that. He is one of one.
00:15:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think you're right. I think, I think, I think you're a hundred percent right there. in that, yes, the boss lied a great game. Diaz had a great game and they contributed in terms of goals and assists, but I think you're right. I think it's Salah that kind of leads the way that almost gives the team that kind of reassurance that, you you know, i'm I'm going to put these chances away or I'm going to lay these chances on for you.
00:16:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, but so so we we then go in at halftime 3-1, which is to be critical of Spurs. It's so typical of Spurs to not be able to see out the half at 2-1, because you you think then that, okay, guys, you know what?
00:16:34
Connor
Yeah.
00:16:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
We've been absolutely battered in this first half, absolutely played off the park, but we've got a goal. And so that there's something then to build on in that second half.
00:16:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
But they can see it again, so it's 3-1. You know, we come out into the second half and it's kind of business as usual for Liverpool. I do remember one moment though, I think it was around about the 50th minute where Van Dyke goes down, kind of holding his foot or his ankle, and it's just like everyone that I was watching it with was just like,
00:17:06
Connor
Yeah.
00:17:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
you know, we all held our collective breath. But, so you know, thankfully, yeah nothing doing there. But just a few minutes later, 54 minutes, you know, is that man? Salah counter attack, where I think Robertson makes a brilliant tackle, just outside our own, our own half sets up the counter attack. And then Salah finishes it off to make it for one.
00:17:37
Connor
Yeah it was one of those where it felt kind of like a scrappy almost poacher-esque goal but we don't have anyone in our team that isn't Diogo Jota that scores goals like that so obviously it falls to Salah obviously he's in the right place and he just made it look easy and I think It also probably comes from the fact the defence is kind of scattered there and and everyone is panicking about Salah and the ball coming in.
00:18:02
Connor
I think it actually comes to Sibazla who doesn't make doesn't make contact and then there's Salah who just taps it in. I mean, he is just i yeah know he is just the best, he really is.
00:18:14
Connor
Build the statue is what I'm saying Jesse, I really am.
00:18:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
build the statue. Well, give him the contract first and then build the statue.
00:18:20
Connor
Yeah, with you on that.
00:18:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
That's what I say. But then ah ah just a few minutes, well, a couple of minutes later, so Boz lies through on goal after one of those trademark long balls by Alison. takes it around the keeper, couldn't quite wrap his foot around the ball. But then, you know, as you mentioned earlier, Connor, that's Sir Bosley kind of, you know, he obviously remembered that. And he then sets up Salah, who makes it 5-1. And that is 229 goals in 337 appearances. And as you mentioned, again, he's now clear as fourth in Liverpool's all time list.
00:19:00
Connor
Yeah.
00:19:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
you know There's only the likes of Ian Rush and Roger Hunt in front of him now. He's not going to catch Ian Rush. i mean it's just That's just not going to happen. But for him to be in that top four it's just is absolutely phenomenal. but so Trent was trying to get in on the action as well.
00:19:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
I thought he had a really good game, actually. I thought he was very good.
00:19:22
Connor
so did i
00:19:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
He really took care of Son out on that flank. But he produced a ah ah really good save from Foster. But then, you know, you just see Liverpool are just, you know, they they're still dominant.
00:19:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
But, you know, do you do you look at the the goals that we conceded? McAllister went off, Gackpo went off, Jones and Jota come on, and then about five minutes later, Kudicevsky scores, you know, to make it 5-2. Do you see anything in that? do you Do you think that there was a bit of disruption or do you think it was bad defending?
00:19:58
Connor
i just I think we look a lot more assured when McAllister plays. I think that's it. and and Liverpool are able to retain the ball and
Second Half Key Moments
00:20:05
Connor
control the game a lot more when McAllister is on the pitch. I don't know if that's if that's just a coincidence Liverpool can see there when he comes off.
00:20:14
Connor
But also, I thought the goal was phenomenal, especially the Koulis-Ersky one is just like, it's so well played.
00:20:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. Yeah.
00:20:21
Connor
I think he's also kind of, he's quite smart because you know that Van Dijk is that kind of standoff player where he's looking to put you off rather than than getting in and make a tackle or a challenge.
00:20:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:20:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:20:32
Connor
He just plays it over the top of him and that finish is phenomenal. But it the third goal was the one that really bothered me because you think like, It's just so unnecessary. it's so on I think Liverpool could have stopped the crossing if someone gets out to him quicker. Robertson gets down under a high ball and then, to be fair, to Dominic Solanke, who I remember when he signed for Liverpool, I wanted it to work out so badly. He just seemed like a nice guy. you know I've got a lot of time for Dominic Solanke. But that finishes phenomenal from him too. so
00:21:03
Connor
they're annoying goals to give away but they're all kind of goals that Liverpool could have prevented and I also think I'm not sure if we give those goals away in a game against United or against City or against Real Madrid because I think Liverpool thought the game's done.
00:21:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:21:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
Thanks,
00:21:20
Connor
It's 5-1, you know?
00:21:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
Tom.
00:21:22
Connor
Yeah.
00:21:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. Yeah. Well that, that Solanke goal made it a five three, but then again, typically, you know, Diaz, uh, just a couple of minutes later, you know, rounds off a really good performance, from him to make it, six three.
00:21:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
And that's, uh, that's really how the game ends.
00:21:37
Connor
Mhm.
00:21:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
So I think it's a good time for us to go through a quick break. And then when we come back, we'll go through some player ratings.
Player Ratings Discussion Begins
00:22:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
OK, welcome back. Let's get into some player ratings. Let's start with Allison. I thought solid performance. I don't think he could be faulted for any of the goals that we conceded today. Made a couple of decent saves, I think, towards the end to keep it a three. i'm I'm going to give him a solid performance, a solid seven, I think.
00:22:40
Connor
Yeah, I think that's fair. I think you can't really go any higher. Considering Liverpool can see three goals, but at the same time, but at the same time, like you said, he's not really at fault for any of them.
00:22:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
And c d three. yeah
00:22:52
Connor
I think you could, if you're being really harsh, could he have saved the first one? Maybe, but he doesn't really see it, comes through Gomez and Van Dijk, I think so. I think a seven's fair.
00:23:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
what about the What about the back four? Let's let's start with the full backs, Trent Alexander Arnold.
00:23:10
Connor
I think I get again, you can see that three goals, but I thought Trent's overall play was just like, it's so good. I think he is so good. First time on the ball, his like first time passes his first time crosses. It's just like, he has such a intuition for the game and such an instinct for the game. Uh, I wish that long, that long range attempt went in because wow, what a screamer that would have been. I think I'd also give him, we don't do half ratings on this. I think I'd also give him a seven.
00:23:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
I'm going to give him an eight.
00:23:42
Connor
Yeah. Well, listen, you're the positive one.
00:23:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
This sounds really weird because
00:23:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah ah It sounds really weird because i I think it's a fair point that you make that, you know, when a team concedes three goals, can any of your defence get above seven?
00:23:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
And I think it's a think it's a fair point. But I just think overall, I think that I thought he had a really good game. I think he really shackled Son really well.
00:24:07
Connor
Yeah. yeah
00:24:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
And I just think, again, going forward, he was such a threat. So I just think on balance,
00:24:14
Connor
Yeah.
00:24:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
I thought he was really good. So I'm going to give him an eight and I'm going to give Robertson an eight as well. And maybe that's maybe that's there's a bit of emotion coming in there as well because I thought it was a solid performance. You know, he's had so much stick, right? Notably from you as well, right? He's he's had so much stick.
00:24:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
that i think he kept everything I think he kept everything simple, which I think is deliberate. I think what you are watching today was a very experienced top-class professional play his way back into form.
00:24:51
Connor
Yeah.
00:24:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
So don't worry about doing anything complicated. Focus on the simple things. Everything else will take care of itself. And I thought, he did that.
00:25:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
I thought he won his tackles, he won his duels, you know, he made overlapping runs, he he was getting crosses into the box. And, you know, if in doubt, he just cleared the ball.
00:25:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
And I think the tackle that he made, just outside our own half, ah sorry, our own box, which then set up a counter attack where we scored, I thought that was Andy Robertson, you know, all over today.
00:25:20
Connor
yeah
00:25:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
So I'm going to give him an eight.
00:25:32
Connor
You know what, it's Christmas, you've talked me into it. I'll agree, I'll agree. I think that you made a very, very good argument there, so I'll i'll absolutely agree with you.
00:25:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
You're going to go for it. That's a good argument, isn't it? Your honor.
00:25:41
Connor
It was, yeah. Yeah, it was.
00:25:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah what What about the central ah central defensive pairing? I've got to say, let me let me just say that it was really good to see Gomez and Van Dyck, that kind of old dominant center back pairing,
00:25:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
where you know we've won we won the Premier League and the Champions League, principally but with these two. And I thought Gomez, I thought he was excellent.
00:26:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
He was dominant and you know on the ground and in the air.
00:26:08
Connor
Yeah.
00:26:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
He was always there covering Trent when Trent was further upfield. So I thought he was really good. And I'm going to give him an eight as well, controversially, with the you know three goals conceded.
00:26:23
Connor
You know, i i can I can get on board with that as well, actually. I thought he specifically on the ball and his passes through the lines, it was a kind of, I mean, it wasn't Joel Matip, but it was kind of similar to that. And I think it could be for the second goal. You see like a great pass through the lines from Joe Gomez and you just think like,
00:26:43
Connor
wow i mean if we can keep this kind of player i just think i wish he had a little bit more aggression in him but he has that van dyke thing where he's like he's he's too cool for this you know which i also like he's he seems like a pretty cool guy so yeah let's go for eights i think i'd also probably controversially maybe i'd give van dyke a seven i thought he just
00:26:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
and
00:26:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:27:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, same here. why Do you tell me why you're going to get put down?
00:27:07
Connor
I just think I want more from him. And I know that sounds insane to ask that, but this is not a game where Liverpool concedes three goal. We just don't need to. And we could have conceded more. We also probably should have scored at least 10 today.
00:27:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:27:21
Connor
But there's just something where I wish there was a little bit more proactive.
00:27:27
Connor
Maybe that's too harsh. I don't know. I just i just think he has a little bit more to give us, you know, and I thought he was a bit bit quiet today.
00:27:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
i think the reason i The reason I've given him a seven, I thought he was very good. The only reason I've given it him a seven is that I thought that he could have done better with the Sri Lanka goal.
00:27:38
Connor
Yeah.
00:27:43
Connor
Uh,
00:27:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
I don't think Robertson can do any more because I think the ball goes, it kind of loops over his head and and unless you're kind of, you know, yeah six foot eight, you're just not going to get that ball.
00:27:51
Connor
yeah.
00:27:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
So I can I can see why Robertson didn't get that ball, but I thought that Van Dyke could have done better with the ball that came back into the box.
00:28:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
So whether it was, if you're not going to win the ball, then you've you've got to you've got to make life for Solanke difficult.
00:28:07
Connor
Yeah.
00:28:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
that he because A striker shouldn't When a ball comes into the area and it's across, the striker shouldn't be able to wait for the ball to come down and half volley it in from seven yards.
00:28:24
Connor
Yeah, yeah.
00:28:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah and If you head it in, fine.
00:28:28
Connor
Yeah.
00:28:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
You've just won the header. but so that's why I'm going to give him a seven. the midfield, I thought they were brilliant. I thought Gravenberg and McAllister eight.
00:28:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
Sir Bosley, I'm going to give him a nine. He's my man of the match.
00:28:45
Connor
He's my man of the match too.
00:28:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
He's my man. Is he really? Yeah.
00:28:47
Connor
Yeah, yeah.
00:28:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
I thought he was brilliant. Like a whirlwind. Performance both you know with and without the ball and as you said he's starting to deliver Because we all knew he had the energy the the engine the kind of the high press and the you know But he's delivering that end products whether it was goals and assists
00:29:00
Connor
Yeah.
00:29:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
And I really think that if he can maintain this kind of form between now and the end of the season, that could be a crucial factor for us in terms of whether we win one of the really big prizes, because we know that our front guys can deliver.
00:29:22
Connor
Yeah.
00:29:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
But if if someone from our midfield can break through and maybe deliver, you know, seven, eight goals, nine goals between now and the end of the season in midfield, that could be huge.
00:29:37
Connor
Yeah, and it looks like out of all of the options we have, it's probably him and then maybe Kurtz Jones. Kurtz Jones has a moment for scoring goals, but nobody, I think, in that Liverpool team, except for maybe Ryan Graf Burch, has that kind of power in midfield and the ability to beat a man and just burst through the midfield.
00:29:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
Mm.
00:29:55
Connor
I thought he was phenomenal. You give him a nine. I kind of want to give him a ten. I just thought he was... he's That's everything I want from Subaslai.
00:30:05
Connor
Every single thing I want from him.
00:30:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:30:07
Connor
So you know what, I'm going to give him a 10, it's Christmas. I agree with, uh, I agree with the McAllister Ait, but I also think, and I'm, you know, I'm chair of the Ryan Gravenberts fan club.
00:30:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
Mary. You all.
00:30:19
Connor
I didn't think he was great today. I didn't think he had to be really, but I, he was very tidy, but I don't think he had enough bite in midfield today.
00:30:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
No. Yeah.
00:30:27
Connor
So I think I'd give him a seven.
00:30:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
Oh, controversial, controversial.
00:30:30
Connor
I know, I know.
00:30:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
Front three, I'm going to go for, uh, gap post seven. I thought, I thought he was good.
00:30:36
Connor
Yep.
00:30:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
He was solid, but I think sometimes he was a bit wasteful.
00:30:41
Connor
Yep.
00:30:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
and then Salah, I'm going to, I'm going to give him nine and I'm going to give Diaz a nine as well.
00:30:45
Connor
Yep. Yeah.
00:30:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
Cause I just thought those two were just outstanding.
00:30:48
Connor
But I'm in total agreeance with you. I think
00:30:54
Connor
gakpo7 almost feels like we're just balancing the the board here because and we can't all have nines and eights and tens all around here but i thought diaz and salah i think's probably mostly sat but i just i just can't get over how consistent he is he is just like
00:30:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yes.
00:31:12
Connor
He is maybe the best player I've ever seen play for Liverpool. Maybe. I'm 27, nearly 28. He is just the most consistent, the biggest big game player we've ever had.
00:31:23
Connor
He's a history maker, a record breaker.
00:31:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:31:26
Connor
I'm not going to start spitting more bars at you, but he is phenomenal. He really is.
00:31:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
here is this so What can you say? You just think every single game that goes by, it just highlights how much we need him and how strange this contract situation is that it hasn't been sorted out.
00:31:36
Connor
Yeah.
00:31:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
but Let's round off the the episode then with a look at some of the other key results in the Premier League. You say that it's getting boring talking about Mohamed Salah and all the goals that he's scoring, Conor. Is it getting boring saying that Man City lost this weekend?
00:32:06
Connor
no it never will it never will i don't know if you saw any of that game did you catch any of it but yeah yeah
00:32:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
so boring
00:32:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
I did. I saw the highlights. For anyone that hasn't seen it, Man City slumped to another defeat. 2-0 away at Aston Villa. They are now in 7th place on 27 points. How many points is that behind us that is 12 points yeah 12 points behind us plus we've got game in hand and they are four points behind fourth placed no yeah fourth placed Nottingham Forest
00:32:50
Connor
Yeah. Well, I don't want to speak too much about the table because I think they'll probably be a little bit higher come the end of the season. But they're just in a really bad, really bad moment.
00:33:02
Connor
like that Everything that could go wrong for them seems to be going wrong. But also, there's no excuse really. If you look at the team that started against Villa, they're more than capable.
00:33:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, I was literally gonna say the same thing.
00:33:13
Connor
They are more than capable. And I just think I think this is the case of what happens when the mentality goes in the team. I just don't think mentally they're there. And I think that's kind of indicative from the fact that how often do we talk about how amazing and people like Bernardo Silva, Phil Fod and Jack Grealish are when they're flying and they're winning and they're scoring goals.
00:33:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:33:32
Connor
and winning trophies, but at the minute all three of those players were all horrible. I mean, I thought Grealish, first 45 was okay, Foden gets a goal right at the end. Bernarda Silva though, the guy, bless him, he's been running to the ground, but it couldn't happen to a better person. So you know what? I'm enjoying it. I really am. I'm enjoying it.
00:33:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
But you know what, I thought it was, there's ah there's a poetic kind of, i don't know I don't know if it's justice, but there was something poetic about a hundred million pound Jack Grealish coming you know with his Manchester City shirt on, coming to the place, to the club that made him, Aston Villa, and Aston Villa are now above Manchester City.
Manchester City's Struggles
00:34:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
And I also thought it was quite sad that Jack Grealish has gone now.
00:34:23
Connor
Yeah.
00:34:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
Pep Guardiola has tacticked that out of Grealish.
00:34:30
Connor
Yeah.
00:34:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
Grealish, in years gone by, would have produced some kind of magic. He would have gone past a player. He would have been really creative in that last third. But there were so many times where I saw Jack Grealish pick the ball up on the left.
00:34:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
shimmy to kind of or faint to go past a defender and then stop check back and then pass it back into the centre of midfield and I thought you know what that's that's that's man city
00:34:51
Connor
Yeah.
Arsenal's Upcoming Challenges
00:34:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
that's man city right now and that's what's happened to Jack Greeley so so they are in in a really bad way Arsenal
00:34:58
Connor
yeah
00:35:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
went to Palace, which could have been tricky. But they came out with three points, five, one winners at Selhurst Park. They are now six points behind us. Obviously, we've got that game in hand. How do you see Arsenal's challenge? it is Is this something that the they can build on? Do you think that they are? Do you think they're in it?
00:35:30
Connor
Yeah, I think they're in it. But I also think, I don't know if you've seen this. Maybe I follow more Arsenal fans on socials than you do. They're complaining that they've got a really tough run of fixtures in the next five games. And I just think, look at what we've had.
00:35:43
Connor
Look at what we've had, you know.
00:35:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
What is their run?
00:35:45
Connor
i it's There's a few big games in there.
00:35:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
lets
00:35:48
Connor
There's a few big games in there.
00:35:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
so they're They're saying they've got a really tough run of features, right? Okay. So Friday, December the 27th, they are home to Ipswich.
00:35:53
Connor
I've seen a few of those. Yeah.
00:36:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
Merry Christmas, Arsenal. Okay. New Year's Day, they are a away to Brentford. Okay. I could see that's a little bit tricky. And then Saturday, January the 4th, they are away to Brighton.
00:36:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
And then on the January the 7th, they are home to Newcastle. And then on January the 12th, they are home to Manchester United.
00:36:25
Connor
Yeah.
00:36:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
And if you want to look at the next one, actually, they're home to Tottenham.
00:36:28
Connor
Yeah, I mean, exactly, exactly.
00:36:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
So you've got, they've got tasty ones, but you know, it's the Premier League. What do you expect? There's no easy games.
00:36:34
Connor
I think my only issue, my only issue where I think they could probably slip up is I think it looks like, but Kairosaka is going to be out for a little while.
00:36:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
it so easy Yeah.
00:36:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:36:43
Connor
They look like a nasty, like maybe like a hamstring or something. and So, but, but finally Gabriel Jesus is scoring goals and you know, unless it's maybe, maybe we'll see what happens when you play somebody that isn't crystal palace, but we'll see.
00:36:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
It could be crucial that.
00:36:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
I do not really do not like him.
00:36:58
Connor
We'll see.
00:37:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, he's just one of those you you sneeze next to him and he kind of holds his face ah rolling around the floor. Let's look at Chelsea's fixtures because they could only get a point at Everton.
00:37:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
So they are now four points behind us and we've got a gaming hand on them as well.
00:37:21
Connor
Yeah.
00:37:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
Their next batch of fixtures, Boxing Day, they're home to Fulham. That's West London Derby and Fulham are playing well.
00:37:32
Connor
yeah
00:37:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
So that could be interesting. And then they are away to Ipswich. Should win that. Away to Palace, London Derby.
00:37:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
And then they are home to Bournemouth, home to Wolves, and then away to Man City.
00:37:51
Connor
Yeah.
00:37:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
So i mean you could say that the Man City one in years gone by, well, that's going to be tricky.
00:37:55
Connor
We'll
00:37:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
But they should get three points there.
00:37:59
Connor
see.
00:38:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
They should get three points.
00:38:00
Connor
Yeah. Yeah.
00:38:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
But ah ah it's it's January the 25th. Man City could have bought half the world's working population by then in the January transfer window.
00:38:07
Connor
Yeah. yeah
00:38:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
but so Anyway, that is all for today. You've been listening to the Daily 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 tomorrow for our tactics show. Until then, from myself and Connor, thank you for listening.