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MERSEYSIDE DERBY PREVIEW!
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The Reds are back in PL action as they welcome city rivals Everton to Anfield for Saturday's early blockbuster. Can the champions make it 5 wins from 5?
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Global Sports Podcast Network - Creating the world’s first network of 30-minute daily podcasts for the world’s biggest sporting export, the English Premier League.
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Transcript
Introduction and Recent Wins
00:00:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hello and welcome to the Daily Liverpool podcast brought to you by the Global Sports Podcast Network. Another week, another crazy few games in the Premier League and now the Champions League.
00:01:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
We had that last minute winner against Burnley in the Premier League at the weekend. And then on Wednesday night, we get another last gasp winner, this time against Atletico Madrid in the Champions League.
00:01:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
I was there um last night. Obviously, this is at the time of recording. It's Thursday. Hence the kind of... Sore throat, hoarse voice and lack of sleep, curtsy of Great British Roads, which are most of them were closed on the way back from Anfield. So got in at about 2 a.m. m last night. So, yeah, a little bit worse for wear, but so still buzzing really after that Virgil van Dijk winner, which I've got to say, any anyone that was at the stadium yesterday,
00:01:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
but we could all sense it was coming. And and this is this is what it does, does these kind of last minute goals. Look, I hear all the the haters and opposition fans talking about how lucky we are, how the referees are giving us everything, you know, LeVar Paul.
00:02:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
But the reality is that great teams, champions, you know, that's... That's what they do.
The Role of Last-Minute Goals
00:02:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
This is what the ah ah Liverpool team of the 70s and the 80s did on a regular basis.
00:02:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
This is what the Manchester United team of the 80s and the 2000s did, the early 2000s. I mean, they called it Fergie time. You know, that that's the regularity with which stoppage time goals were going in at Old Trafford.
00:02:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
And, you know, that's why these teams... That's why they were champions, because they they never give up. They always believe that they're going to get something out of the game.
00:03:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
And, you know, they'll just keep going because they've done it so many times before. And i think what makes that belief a reality, at least partly, is the effect that that has on the opposition as well, because they know it too.
00:03:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
They know that we're up against a team that constantly gets these last minute goals. And so they start sitting a bit deeper. They will get desperate. They start panicking in defence because ultimately they know what's coming.
00:03:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
And look, from our point of view, while it's a great quality to have that belief, that resilience, you know, to keep going, to keep pushing forward, to not give up and and to not buckle under the pressure.
Challenges in the Champions League
00:03:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think sooner or later you're going to get caught out. And it's great when you get these last minute goals. But it just takes one game where, you know, you you were 2-0 up and you've let that lead slip and then you don't get a last minute win and then it becomes a bit of an issue.
00:04:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
But look, I've said it before on this podcast a few times, I think that We're almost inviting this problem. And for me, i think the biggest thing, at least I think,
00:04:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
the only criticism really that you could level at this team and Arnie's slot is the slow tempo of the game at certain parts because I think we just slow it down too much, maybe trying to kill the game, maybe trying to take the sting out the game at 2-0.
00:04:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
But i I think that at 2-0 you keep going because the best way to kill a game is by scoring another goal. instead of trying to control or contain or slow the tempo down. And then if you concede, all of a sudden, you know, the the opposition have got their tails up and if they can get one back, they can, you know, they can get another another back. And so they're the they're the team that's on the front foot. And we've seen that a few times already this season.
00:05:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
But ultimately, look, we've got the job done. It's three points in what will be a really, really tough Champions League campaign. I'm not sure we're winning seven out of eight like we did last season.
00:05:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
Just the next game, I think up next is Galatasaray away, which is never an easy place to go.
Upcoming Premier League Matches
00:05:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
And, you know, they've made some good signings, Galatasaray. I think they've got Victor Ossiman on a permanent transfer. They've brought in Leroy Sane. They've brought in Gundogan, I think, as well.
00:06:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
So some really good players in that team. And when you factor in just the hostility of that stadium on on European nights, it's got to be one of the toughest places to go in terms of atmosphere, which is fantastic. That's what you want to watch. That's why we love European football.
00:06:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
But so yeah, not not a not an easy list of fixtures in this Champions League this season for us. But this weekend, the attention obviously turns back to the Premier League.
00:06:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
And, you know, it's a big one. In fact, I think it's a big weekend in the Premier League. Apart from us going head to head with local rivals, Everton, Manchester City are going to Arsenal for the Sunday kickoff.
00:06:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
And, you know, that could be ah ah significant game in in what is the kind of very early part of of the title race.
00:07:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
Obviously, we're top on 12 points. Arsenal are in second on nine points and then Manchester City are down in eighth on seven points. So they're just two points behind Arsenal.
00:07:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
They're five points behind us And so I think this is a, it's a really big game for both of those teams because you've got Arsenal who, you know, they've got to be looking at this season. I mean we've said this for a few seasons now, but and it's going to remain that way until they do get over the line.
00:07:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
And it's these kinds of games where I think most of the criticism criticism that's been leveled at Mikel Arteta, it's these kinds of games where he's kind of fallen short. So he went to Anfield, he took his Arsenal team to Anfield and really put in, ah ah for me, what was, a I thought, a really, ah just a terrible performance.
00:08:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
A terrible performance tactically from the manager, terrible team selection and just the way that the team performed.
00:08:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
just told you that this is a team that is playing with fear, fear of losing as opposed to
00:08:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
you know, being confident about going out and and winning a game. And as I said, these are the games that Arsenal have been criticised for not really going for. I remember Gary Neville said last season when Arsenal, they got a 2-2 draw, I think it was, at the Etihad.
00:08:54
Global Sports Podcast Network
And, you know, they were really happy with that point. And Gary Neville, I thought, made a really good point saying that, you you need to win those games, not just because of the points but you that you take and and the three points that you take off your one of your title or rivals, but it's the the mentality, the psychology the game.
00:09:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
that that is affected in those kinds of games. It affects your opposition's mentality and psychology, the team that you've just beaten, obviously, because they've lost a game against their title rivals.
00:09:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
But it also sends out a signal to other title rivals that, you know, we're we're in this to win it. And... And they just haven't been able to do that. And so i think this is going to be a big game for Arteta because I think if they don't win this game, they they could they could be five points behind.
00:10:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
And that's obviously provided we win first. And that's that's the other kind of very interesting factor about some of these fixtures in the Premier League is the timing. So our kickoff is on Saturday.
00:10:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's an early kickoff. And so, you know, if we do win that game, then we can already pull, I think, is it five or so six points clear of of Arsenal.
00:10:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
Six points clear of Arsenal before the Sunday game. And so the pressure will be on both teams, you know, to get a result, a positive result, because a draw would mean Liverpool being five points ahead of Arsenal.
Liverpool vs. Everton Preview
00:10:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
and seven points ahead of Manchester City with just five games played. And so that would be great for us.
00:10:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
But I think both teams have got a huge incentive to go out and and get a positive result rather than play for a draw. So could be a very significant week and weekend weekend in the Premier League.
00:11:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
But so we will look ahead to the Everton game right after this very short break.
00:11:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
OK, so Liverpool welcome local rivals Everton to Anfield for the first Merseyside derby the season. It's an early kickoff in the UK, Saturday, 12.30pm. And that's an it's an even earlier start for our friends in the States at seven thirty am Eastern Time.
00:12:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
So we go into this game top of the league after just four games, maximum points with four wins from those four games. But it is a Derby game. And so ah guess we do have to revert to to cliche and say that the form book goes out of the window when it comes to Derby games.
00:12:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
And I suppose it does in some sense, but only if we allow that to happen. So I think it you know the onus is completely on Liverpool to go out and win this game because...
00:12:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
Quite simply, we have the better team. We have a better set players. In every position, we've got a better goalkeeper. The defence is better. The midfield is much better.
00:13:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
You know, the the forward players are much better. So the onus is on us to dictate the game and to dictate the outcome. Everton will come to Anfield off the back of a goalless draw at home to Aston Villa.
00:13:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
And they've accumulated seven points from their opening four Premier League games. Two wins, a loss and a draw. And, you know, they've scored five goals, they've conceded three and a goal difference of of plus two. So, you know, it's it's a it's a decent start for David Moyes, Everton manager.
00:13:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
Everton lie in sixth. in the Premier League table. So i think he's he's made a ah good start. And, you know, he I think he's really shaping this Everton team in his image now. Obviously, he was but Everton manager for such a long time in his first stint.
00:14:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
And they are now, you know, starting to show signs of being a much more stable and well-organised team, which, you know, that's what you expect from a ah David Moyes team.
00:14:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
They are in a new stadium now. They've got players like Jack Grealish, you know, who's who's come in and has already made a really positive start. So I think Everton are a team that will do, i think, a lot better than they have done in recent seasons.
00:14:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
I don't think you're looking at a team that will be in a relegation fight like they've been in recent seasons. That said, look, we know what Everton will come with.
00:14:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
They will want to stifle Liverpool and not allow them to build any kind of rhythm in their play. And, you know, I said a few weeks ago that the Newcastle game, you know, because of their they're kind of long ball tactics, that was a good practice for the Arsenal game.
00:15:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
And that was a good practice for the Burnley game. And that's going to be a good practice for the Everton game, because Everton will do what all of those teams try to do, which is to really just to stop us from from playing football.
00:15:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
which is fine, but they won't play football either. They will use set pieces. They'll use long goal kicks from Jordan Pickford and they will waste time.
00:15:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
They will use every trick in the book to make this an ugly contest. And you know what? That's fine. It's up to us to break these teams down.
00:15:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
But I think this is why maybe we haven't been at our most scintillating best when it comes to the football that we're playing because, you know, it's with the best will in the world.
00:16:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
it's difficult to do it's still got to play really great football when the opposition has two banks of five in their own half and show absolutely no ambition in in going forward and we're we're used to that we're we're getting more and more used to that and look we'll just have to get on with it and deal with whatever it is that Everton are going to bring.
00:16:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
I just hope that the referee does his job. Some of the tackles that our players have suffered in this fixture in this fixture over the years, has I think has been really shocking. The tackles have been shocking, but also the decisions have been even worse.
00:16:54
Global Sports Podcast Network
I mean, Alexis McAllister alone will need... He'll probably play with an extra large pair of shin pads after last season's horror tackle by James Tarkowski.
00:17:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
But look, you know Macca is Argentinian. He'll be fine. Tough as nails. And the reason I bring up the refereeing is because it's fine having these terrible tackle tackles, but they're not punished.
00:17:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
they It'll just be yellow card. So i'm I'm hoping that the referee is is going to be it's going to be strong.
Liverpool's Derby Strategy
00:17:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
Jack Grealish, I've already mentioned, I think he's had a really good start to life at Everton.
00:17:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
And yeah just from a football perspective, i'm I'm pleased for him because I thought he was, I just thought he was wasted at Man City. And I know that sounds like a strange thing to say, given what he won at Man City, but You've got to remember, he left Aston Villa as one of the the best naturally gifted players in the country.
00:17:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
And Pep just turned him into this tactical, sideways-passing, boring machine where any of the kind of ingenuity, the spontaneity and creativity that ironically made Man City spend £100 million pounds to get him...
00:18:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
It was just kind of completely beaten out of him. And the other irony is that he goes to Everton under a manager that is regarded as a very conservative and pragmatic manager.
00:18:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
And he's flourishing. think Moyes, I think, you know, he he doesn't get the credit that he deserves. he's looked clearly said to him, look, we've got players that will do the hard yards and they will do the graft.
00:18:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
And yes, you've got to work hard, but we want you to hurt the opposition. And you hurt them by not passing sideways, but by getting forward and passing forwards. And and that's why he's got four assists in the opening four games tonight.
00:19:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
of the season. So and we want to watch and Liverpool hopefully, I think, dominate enough possession to maybe nullify Grealish's threat. And after that Champions League game midweek against Atletico,
00:19:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think team selection is, again, is going to be a big talking point. Alexander Isak made his debut and an impressive one as well. And, you know, surprisingly, i mean, he started and then he came out for the second half as well. I thought he'd just do 45 minutes.
00:19:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
So he got a good kind of 60 minutes under his belt. And so I'm not sure that he'll start this one, maybe another 20, 30 minutes coming on as a sub, obviously, depending on what the game conditions are.
00:19:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
in terms of, look, he's kind of strike partner or the one that he'll be rotating with, Hugo Eketike, already has become a fan favourite. What a signing. What a signing and what a so what a prospect he is.
00:20:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
He came on against Atletico and he was just this big, imposing figure that just, I thought he terrorised that Madrid back line. And think maybe a derby game against Everton.
00:20:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think I think you'll be up for this and really will thrive in that kind of atmosphere. So let's go into a predicted lineup. We'll skip past our goalkeeper, Alison, as we as we do most most weeks, because he is the number one.
00:20:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
And it's really, I guess, again, in those fallback positions. where most of the debate is going to focus because Canate cannate he's got partner Van Dijk. Canate, I think he's safe to say, he has kind of played his way back into proper form now.
00:20:54
Global Sports Podcast Network
And, you know, you you see that kind of triangle of kind of Alisson and then Canate and Van Dijk looking, know, really kind of solid now.
00:21:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
So there's no doubts in terms of my mind that obviously Alisson, Canate and Van Dijk start. And then it's the fullback positions. And I'm going to go for Frimpong because I think.
00:21:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
One, he's back fit. He's, know, he played against Atletico and think his pace is going to be really important because we're going to have to try and get around the sides of a of of a very low block.
00:21:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
And you just know that Mohamed Salah is going to be double marked, maybe even triple marked. And so we're we're going to have to try and match Everton on those flanks.
00:21:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
And so I think it becomes even more important that someone like Frimpong is in the team to, you know, to to give ah alternative to Salah out on those flanks.
00:22:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
So I'm going to go for Frimpong at right back. And even though he started on Wednesday night against Atletico Madrid, i'm goingnna I'm going to go for Andy Robertson at left back. I think that he's been excellent this season.
00:22:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
And it's really, really good to see him. i don't want to say back to his best because he didn't really have a ah ah huge dip. i think I think a lot of the criticism last season was very unfair.
00:22:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
But he did suffer an injury and he came back and he wasn't really quite right. This season, I think, one, he is back to full fitness.
00:22:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
But, you know, he's got serious competition in Milos Kerkes. Simekas has left the club. And so, you know, he's... that competition was not as stiff when Kostas was there.
00:22:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
And so I think that's a good thing. And I think you've, you know, you see that now in in Robertson's performances as well, that he knows he's got a, that his place is not guaranteed. And so, you know, you've seen a really, really good Andy Robertson starting this season.
00:23:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
And I think that with this fixture, it's going to be obviously it's a Merserside derby. It's going to be blood and thunder. And I think one of the things that Kirk has probably got to improve upon is his his's temperament in terms of the tackles that he flies into.
00:23:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
And, you know, there's been a couple of games already where he's been booked and, you know, very early on. And, you know, he had to be subbed against Burnley.
00:23:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
And you just can't afford that in ah ah in a derby game. You've got to keep your head up. And for that reason, I think Andy Robertson would be a a ah really good, uh, a good selection because, you know, his experience, he's played in so many of these big games, these Merseyside derbies.
00:24:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
And so that, that's not going to phase him, but at the same time, he's got that fire as well. you know, where he'll get stuck in, but he'll, he'll know not to cross the line. so I think,
00:24:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think that he's he's our starter. Well, I'd like to see him start anyway.
Predictions and Closing Remarks
00:24:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
And then we go to midfield and there we've got we've we've got another question because...
00:24:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
if if If we have our kind of traditional fullbacks playing, that means Sabozlai has to go into midfield. yeah ah ah don't think you can you can start a game without him.
00:24:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
And particularly in in a game like this, where you're going to need a lot of legs and a lot of energy. It's going to be very physical. So I'm going to go for Gravenberg, McAllister and Sabozlai.
00:24:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
which means that up front, you know, one of Gakpo or Viet's might have to drop out. And it also calls into question the kind of shape that we might play.
00:25:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
And I'm thinking that he either goes for Salah, and I think he'll start with Ekotike, and Gakpo. But then you leave Florian Vietz out unless he goes for a four man midfield.
00:25:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
A similar similar ah similar kind of formation to how he played against Manchester City at the Etihad last season. We had kind of two number 10s to.
00:25:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
To kind of overload that midfield. it's ah it's It's an interesting question because it is going to be quite congested. And so really, I guess the thing that would make most sense is to is to create more width.
00:26:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
But I just think that the the only way that you get Vietz into that team is to play him in midfield as one of two number tens.
00:26:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
So that that I think is another question mark in terms of how that midfield shapes up. There could also be a case that McAllister doesn't start.
00:26:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
because he is also finding his way back into kind of match fitness. And if McAllister doesn't start, then I think it kind of reverts to a more kind of orthodox Arnie Slott team or or ah or a formation at least where Sir Bosley will then go into the midfield, create that double pivot with Gravenberg, who again was absolutely outstanding on Wednesday night.
00:26:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
I just can't think of a better number six in European football at the moment. it could be Gravenberg and Sir Bosley, in which case Vietz then keeps his position in that kind of number 10 role.
00:27:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
And then I think it will be Salah, Ekotike and Gakpo. With... Alexander Isak to come on as a sub.
00:27:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
So I think that would be our you know, our kind of predicted lineup in terms of a predicted score. I've been absolutely terrible this season with my score predictions.
00:27:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
But I'm going to say too niil umve I've got to go for a home win. We are better than Everton. But we've just got to be really switched on.
00:27:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
And I just want us to see... I just want to see us play with a tempo that just doesn't allow for the opposition to come back into the game, as we've done so many times being 2-0 up. And then, you know, we we just allow the team to come back into the game. So hopefully a good tempo, aggressive tempo, and one that just really kills off any chance that Everton can make a comeback.
00:28:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
So we'll see what happens. That is all for today. You've been listening to the Daily Liverpool podcast brought to you by the Global Sports Podcast Network. We'll be back straight after that Everton game on Saturday to give you an immediate post-match reaction.
00:28:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
Until next time, thank you for listening.