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Friday Forcast - The Merseyside Derby Awaits
18 Plays15 days ago
Well, the winning run couldn't last forever. In a mammoth run of fixtures, Liverpool sit top of the league despite a chaotic 3-3 draw away at Newcastle. Join Connor Norcott and Jesse Sarwar as they pick the bones of this result, and build up to a hotly anticipated Merseyside derby - the last at Goodison Park!
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Transcript
Introduction and Episode Preview
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 Conor Norcott and today's episode, we'll take a brief look at Liverpool's three-year-old draw against Newcastle United, as well as look ahead to the upcoming Merseyside Derby this weekend and discuss our predicted lineups and scores.
Guest Introduction and Match Discussion
00:00:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
To discuss all this and more, I'm delighted to be joined by my good friend Jesse Sarwar. Jesse, how are you man?
00:00:38
Jesse
Yeah, I'm good. I'm good. I'm still kind of reeling from the um the Newcastle game, um trying to put it into perspective, you know, trying to put it into perspective.
00:00:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:00:47
Jesse
And I'm sure we'll talk more about that and this weekend's Motorcycle Derby.
00:00:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
Liverpool vs Newcastle Analysis
00:00:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
You know what? I think we should just get stuck into Newcastle because before we hit record, we kind of we kind of started talking about it a little bit and then thought, now we'll we'll save it for the podcast. We both watched it. How did you find it, Jesse? What did you make of it?
00:01:07
Jesse
Yeah, I think it's one of those games where when you're in it, I think half an hour in, if you'd said to me, take a draw, I'd take the point. I'd take the point because Newcastle I thought were really good.
00:01:20
Jesse
And, you know, we said this in the in the podcast a couple of days ago that this was going to be a tricky one because Newcastle at home evening kickoff under the lights.
00:01:31
Jesse
They've got a really good record against, you know, the big teams have taken points off of Manchester City.
00:01:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
Mm hmm.
00:01:36
Jesse
They've taken points off Arsenal. They really raised their game for the big games for the big teams. And um so this had, you know, this had a kind of a draw or a defeat written all over it. And that first half hour I thought, we're gonna be lucky if we come away with a point. And then we we get back into it.
00:01:57
Jesse
Second half was much, much better. and And then we get ourselves ahead. And then you think, wow, you know what? This is this is going to be a massive three points because for all intents and purposes, we are out of this game.
00:02:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
oh yeah
00:02:11
Jesse
And if you are an Arsenal fan or if you're Man City and you're watching this, you're thinking, how can they play this badly and still come away with three points? But then Kelleher just has a ah brain freeze.
00:02:25
Jesse
um And so, you know, it's one of those games where afterwards you take stock, you think on balance, it's probably a fair result.
00:02:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
Oh, yeah.
00:02:33
Jesse
And we're going to have to put this result into the week's context. So going into that Merseyside Derby, I think if if we get a really positive result, then I think the overall will be a net positive for us.
00:02:46
Jesse
But I thought the the game against Newcastle, there there were things that I think we we can talk about because they were a bit concerning.
00:02:57
Jesse
I think that the injuries are starting to mount in defense.
00:03:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
Mmhmm.
00:03:02
Jesse
And you saw that with Kwanza coming in next to Gomez, which I've got to say, I wasn't happy with the position. I thought Kwanza would have been better off playing in the center and having Gomez at right back, which is more familiar for him.
00:03:20
Jesse
He's played in all the fullback positions. And I think he would have been a better better option to kind of marshal the threat that Newcastle posed down the flanks.
00:03:31
Jesse
um And then with, you know, the likes of Robertson, he's playing every game now. There's no backup with Simakas. So there are areas of concern going into the Everton game.
Key Players: Salah and Kelleher
00:03:43
Jesse
But, you know, the man who came to our rescue again is Salah.
00:03:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:03:47
Jesse
He just keeps doing it.
00:03:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
He is kind of, um we'll talk about him a little bit, in a little bit, but it's kind of hard not to lead with that because, you know, we have a we a Daily Liverpool group chat and even all everyone was just going crazy with by the time he scored that.
00:04:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
His second, Liverpool's third. And I just thought he he kind of bailed us out again. And, you know, we've been kind of hanging our hat on Salah just doing something in Liverpool benefiting and it was bound to run out at some point.
00:04:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
And we've seen it before from Kelleher where He's a great goal and I still stand by. I think he's the best number two in the league, probably in Europe, probably in the world. um But he does have those little moments.
00:04:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
You saw it for Ireland too, where he just has a little moment of madness and it looked like he could have caught that. I've not really seen it back because I can't bring myself to watch it back. But it looked like he could have caught it and he just kind of left it.
00:04:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
And and again,
00:04:40
Jesse
and it It looks like an error of judgment.
00:04:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
it is and also it's kind of ah it's poor defended on on Trent's part two i think letting and Shah run off him so easily so uncontested and i'm sure we've seen him score goals like that before Fabian Shah so it felt like a bit of a sucker punch but probably deserved considering the context of the game and I don't know. We'll talk a little bit more in detail actually. what The first 45 minutes I thought were rough from us. I mean we've had those moments against Southampton and other games where we've not been up to the races or at the races but I just thought nobody was up for it.
00:05:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
When Sal is quiet too like he can have those moments but it's normally second half when we really need him and in first half he didn't really have much to do. I thought the changes slot made were interesting.
00:05:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
You saw Nunez start, Jones started, you mentioned Kwanza already.
00:05:28
Jesse
Mm.
00:05:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
What did you make on Nunez and Jones?
Liverpool's Young Talent and Striker Concerns
00:05:37
Jesse
I'm going to start with Jones first because otherwise I'm going to break the screen and the podcast will be over.
00:05:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
Please do, please do.
00:05:44
Jesse
I thought Jones was very good. um you know He's really settling into that midfield position. He's looking less now like a backup player in midfield.
00:05:54
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:05:55
Jesse
He's now just a regular first team player in that midfield that is being rotated. So whether it's Graven Burke and Jones or Graven Burke and McAllister, Callister and Jones. There's no drop off now.
00:06:07
Jesse
He's a top quality central midfielder now for Liverpool. And yeah, thought I thought he was ah thought he was very good. Nunez, where do I start?
00:06:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:06:20
Jesse
Nunez, you don't want to hammer in because the fan base loves him. But I think we've all got to start asking ourselves why. And the reason why we love him is because he works hard. He's he's passionate. He gives 100% all of those things. And really, that's a prerequisite as a as so professional footballer and as a player for Liverpool. You've got to give 100%. You've got to care. You've got to be passionate. You've got to give it all.
00:06:57
Jesse
But that's not what he's in the team for. He's in the team to score goals. And no one's asking him to be Muhammad Salah and score game after game after game, come out with, you know, world class contribution, you know, every single game.
00:07:14
Jesse
But I think you've got to start asking serious questions when he just keeps missing those sitters.
00:07:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:07:22
Jesse
That's absolute sitters. um I think the first one At first glance, it looked like he was unlucky where I think it was ah it was a salah crosses the ball. Gackpo heads the ball across goal. And it just looks like one of those moments when a striker sliding in it, he just misses it, you know, they've all done it. You look at the replay.
00:07:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
Oh man.
00:07:46
Jesse
he He actually goes over the ball.
00:07:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:07:48
Jesse
So it's not like the ball has gone past him and then he you know it was just a fraction too late. That happens all the time and you can forgive that. But he his foot goes over the ball. He misses the ball.
00:08:01
Jesse
you know So I think i think he's he's he's got to score that. And then the other one, I think was even worse, where the ball drops his feet five yards out, six yards out, and he completely spoons it.
00:08:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah
00:08:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
Mhm.
00:08:14
Jesse
And I just think, you you know you are a Uruguay international. and We've paid played 60 odd million pounds for you. You've got to have the composure to just hit the target.
00:08:26
Jesse
Just hit the target.
00:08:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:08:28
Jesse
Don't do anything special. I don't know whether he's got it and two years in, I don't know whether he's going to have it.
00:08:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
I feel like this is such an important season for him and we're not going to blow it out of water too much here because it's a draw. it's it's It's not because of this game we're having, this conversation. I think it's kind of been ah a long gestating issue for for Liverpool. and he is Like you mentioned, he's a player that everyone loves and everyone wants it to work.
00:08:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
But it's at the end of this season, I think Liverpool are going to have a big decision to make if it keeps going on like this because he doesn't strike me as the most Arnis lot player really. And I don't really know what an Arnis lot striker looks like now. um But I think it's closer to what Diogo Jota offers us than what Darwin Nunez offers us, you know.
00:09:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
especially when you have a player like Mo Salah who is the kind of fulcrum of that attack and the out and you know, contributes to 60% of all of Liverpool's goals this season. and I thought Nunez just had a game that you kind of just want to move on past it and maybe it's our fault because we were hyping him up in the pre-match build up, weren't we? We were saying, yeah, this is a Darwin Nunez game.
00:09:35
Jesse
I'm not taking responsibility for his performance. Come on.
00:09:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
Fair, fair, fair, fair.
00:09:39
Jesse
Come on. And I think that you know you you made the comment about ah the summer transfer window. You know what, I think it could be sooner.
00:09:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
Well, I yeah.
00:09:49
Jesse
With all this talk about with Marmouche, and Marmouche has been, I think, lazily linked with Salah's future.
00:09:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:09:57
Jesse
yeah They're both Egyptian, they're both forwards, and so Marmouche comes in as a replacement for Salah. I think it could be for Nunes.
00:10:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:10:06
Jesse
I think if we get Marmouche in and we can move Nunes on for roughly the same money so that we're kind of evens, I think Liverpool do. it
00:10:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. And I also think that would benefit Liverpool too, based on, correct me if I'm wrong, but I think either Marmush has a release clause or his contract's running out nearly in his last year or so. So it's not a massive fee you're looking at. And if you think about what you might recoup back from the Darwin-Nunez sale, it might work out. That's a very, very Liverpool piece of business to do.
Tactical Insights and Derby Anticipation
00:10:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
What I will say though, it it was a kind it was a game that really frustrated me, but I thought some of the the silver linings, if you can put it that way, were the subs that Slott made.
00:10:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
I thought he's just so good at this.
00:10:48
Jesse
Yeah.
00:10:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
His ability to like read the game state and like what the what the team needs and put that in. And thankfully, they will have the personnel to do it. He brings on Subozla, Diaz, and Trent Alexander-Arnold.
00:11:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
They're all amazing players, so you know credit to them as well. But I think Subozla specifically, what he comes on and does, And I think taking Graven Burghoff who had listened I'm his biggest fan. He did not have a good game I just think physically physically he just wasn't at it and that Newcastle midfield was just too aggressive And also, you know, he gets booked for absolute nonsense, but let's not talk about the referee too much Yeah in criminal and he misses the Derby now Yeah
00:11:21
Jesse
Calluses was even worse. Calluses was This is the Derby. Absolutely. Let's not go down the referee route because.
00:11:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
No, but tangential to that, I think it's quite interesting that Slott goes, well, you know what, you can have the full 90. He trusts him to play on the yellow card, because so many Liverpool players have played on it already this year.
00:11:37
Jesse
Yeah, true.
00:11:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
He puts in a fantastic performance. I think Michaela Stur considering where Liverpool were at. Let's Jones drop deeper, who I thought was phenomenal there as well, by the way. I thought he was really good. And so Boz like, I mean, his his little dummy for that that salad goal, the second salad goal is just, it's beautiful.
00:11:54
Jesse
yeah yeah
00:11:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
And some of his link up play was great. um You know what I do want to know though, Jesse, is we we kind of spoke a little bit about, we saw this like 12 stretch, 12 game stretch for Liverpool and it started with Chelsea at Anfield and Liverpool 1-2-1.
00:12:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
And if you kind of looked at all of those fixtures Liverpool had and you said Liverpool are only going to drop points away at Arsenal and away at Newcastle before the Merseyside derby that ends it, you would have bit in your hand.
00:12:18
Jesse
Yeah. Yeah.
00:12:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
You would have taken it in a heartbeat, wouldn't you?
00:12:25
Jesse
100% 100% and.
00:12:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. So I kind of think you know it's a little blip, but you know there's going to be massive games to play. And I think they'll they'll take points of a few more teams, whether it's at St. James's or away. you know they're they're They're a real strong team. um But you know let's take a quick little break before discussing our final game of that nasty run of 12 fixtures.
00:13:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
So, what a surprise. The next game is an absolutely massive must-win, Jesse. Not to give too much inside baseball about when we're recording, but let's say it it's not exactly Saturday morning yet, and I'm already nervous.
00:13:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
How are you feeling for it?
00:13:43
Jesse
Yeah, i'm I'm looking forward to it. I'm looking forward to it.
00:13:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:13:47
Jesse
Yes, it's going to be a tough game. It's a Merseyside Derby. it's It's the last Merseyside Derby at Goodison.
00:13:54
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hmm.
00:13:55
Jesse
So you know that the team are going to be up for it. The crowd are going to be up for it. um But I would say one thing. I think this is probably the only time that I can think of where I'm actually quite happy that it's a 12.30 kickoff.
00:14:10
Jesse
because if you can you imagine Goodison Park on an evening kickoff under the last yeah Merseyside Derby last Derby at Goodison Park it would be absolutely bouncing so for me having a 1230 kickoff there
00:14:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
Oh yeah, Saturday night, one of those 8pm, horrible, ugh. yeah
00:14:32
Jesse
It's still going to be a ah big game. They're still going to be up for it. But it's I think it takes a little bit of the sting out of the crowd for for a 1230 kickoff. So I'm actually quite happy that it's a 1230. And I think it gives us an opportunity to make sure that Everton, that their crowd doesn't get up.
00:14:52
Jesse
Because on 12.30 kickoffs, it takes a bit of time for the crowd to get into the game. It takes an incident. It takes a goal. you know It takes 10, 15 minutes of sustained pressure for the you know the team, for the crowd to really, really get behind the team. So I think if Liverpool can go into this game.
00:15:10
Jesse
and really kill that momentum that Everton will want to try and build for the first 15-20 minutes, then I think that they are a team that we can and really we should beat and beat convincingly.
00:15:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, I completely agree. And when you look at some of the results they've had, I mean, I know they had a great win midweek and and that was a massive game for them, by the way, at Goodison that, uh, against, you know, my favorite Gary O'Neill's wolves.
00:15:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
I wanted to get that in before you said something because, uh, you know, we we disagree on that one, but yeah, he's not.
00:15:44
Jesse
His own fans were singing sacked in the morning, for God's sake.
00:15:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, it's it's not looking good. It's not looking good.
00:15:50
Jesse
It's bad enough with the opposition. I mean, when Liverpool fans did it to Guardiola, Guardiola lost the plot.
00:15:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:15:55
Jesse
Even though, you know, that that's football, there's a bit of irony in there.
00:15:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:16:00
Jesse
We all knew that he's not going to get sacked in the morning, but it's a bit of irony. But for your own travelling fans to start singing sacked in the morning, That's got to be, you know, that is a real shocker.
00:16:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:16:14
Jesse
And Everton, you know, they got two own goals.
00:16:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
I know.
00:16:18
Jesse
And that's something that we need to look at as well, is that their form guide last six games is a draw, a loss, two draws, a 4-0 battering, and then they win 4-0.
00:16:32
Jesse
So they're literally all over the place. And those four goals that they scored midweek, two of them were own goals.
00:16:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:16:40
Jesse
So they're not scoring a lot of goals. And I just think that, you know, we've we've really got to get stuck into these guys. But for me, the concern is just our back four, walk back four turns out and where they play.
00:16:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, I think you're right. and And also, I mean, we'll talk a little bit about predicted lineups a bit later on, but I think you mentioned Everton don't score goals. I saw a stat and I don't know if it's true or not. if ever If any Evertonians are listening, please, please let us know if that's true.
00:17:04
Jesse
ah chairs just make them up conor you know but when they when
00:17:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
But apparently, Craig Dawson is their joint top goal scorer.
00:17:08
Jesse
ah aing
00:17:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
We had two young goals yesterday for for Wolves. And that's just like, that's criminal, right? That is absolutely criminal. um
00:17:19
Jesse
I've gone um've got Dwight McNeil as their top scorer with three goals.
00:17:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
uh huh three well you know what there's there's not a huge difference there but uh but yeah i ah yeah you know what yeah i think
00:17:26
Jesse
Yeah. Some huge difference. Three goals and four assists actually. he's He's actually not too bad for considering they're not scoring that many goals and considering where they are, I think he's he's he's had a decent season.
00:17:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, he's been the kind of their silver line and if you will, um I've not seen too much of them this year but I tend not to watch teams managed by Sean Dyche for fun so I'm not too sure of many other people have been watching everyone but I don't know, ah how do you think how do you think Liverpool approach this because
00:17:44
Jesse
Yeah.
00:17:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
They're kind of languishing now in 15th place. I know they're fresh off a big 4-0 win, but like you said, their form is all over the place. They don't score a lot of goals, but they are really dangerous from set pieces. They're quite physical. It's going to be a nasty game. or how do you How do you think Liverpool approach this one?
00:18:16
Jesse
Yeah, they' they're just gonna have to roll their sleeves up. This is going to be it's going to be a battle.
00:18:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:18:20
Jesse
And, you know, to be fair to Everton, you know, they're gonna they're gonna use the Jurgen Klopp principle, which I remember Klopp saying, if you're playing against a team that's better than you, you have to drag them down to your level.
00:18:35
Jesse
And that's what Everton will try to do is drag Liverpool down. to their live level, which is a long, long way down, incidentally. You know, that they want to make a physical battle out of this. They'll want to Harry Gravenberg. I think they will look at the Newcastle performance really, and see that as a bit of a blueprint in terms of not letting the midfield Liverpool midfield settle.
00:19:00
Jesse
I don't think they've got the quality that Newcastle have going forward, but they can certainly put pressure on Gravenberg, put pressure on Jones. They don't have time to settle on the ball. And then, as you said, um they'll want to put that back four under physical pressure. So look, Van Dyke can, you know, I think he can deal with that. And I think if Kanate was there, his physical presence, you know, would have been a massive, massive plus for us.
00:19:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
Mm hmm.
00:19:31
Jesse
But you know with either Gomez or Kwanzaa in that back line, I think there is something there for Everton to into ah kind kind of try and target Trent. I think he played well when he came on, but he's he's still coming back from a hamstring injury. So um you know there is that, and there's Robertson who's playing every single game. I'm just wondering, obviously we'll talk about the lineups later on.
00:19:57
Jesse
But I think it all depends on what kind of line-up Arnie Slott comes out with for the defence. I suspect that he will stick with experience because I think you'll need experience in this game. But I i genuinely think that if Liverpool can weather that first 15, 20, maybe 25 minutes,
00:20:17
Jesse
and get a foothold in the game. I think if we score, then I just can't see Everton coming back. um so ah They just don't have enough goals in them.
00:20:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:20:29
Jesse
And so they'll will be relying on things like set pieces, on corners, you know, expect some of the um the antics that Anthony Gordon, you know, was coming out with on on Wednesday night where literally you just sneeze next to him and he was going down and the referee was giving not only a free kick, but ah but a booking.
00:20:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:20:49
Jesse
And you you will see people diving, falling over outside the Liverpool penalty area just to try and get those set pieces to put the Liverpool back for under pressure.
00:21:00
Jesse
So the midfield, I think, are going to have to be really, really disciplined in the way that they close down and press and tackle those Everton forwards and not to give away just kind of cheap free kicks in and around that kind of penalty area.
00:21:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:21:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, it feels um when we've been doing these build-ups and these post-match shows and and whatever, we keep talking about the game that's either side of it. So we talk about the game that just came before it and the game that came after it because this has been such a congested you know run of games for Liverpool and they've all been massive like we keep talking about. But you must think, right, with Girona away on Tuesday, I think it is in Champions League and I think it's at 5.45 kick-off away in Spain.
00:21:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
is it just a case of asking those players who are in the red zone to just go again and get the game won and then kind of you know see the game out maybe in the second half of the game and see you know hopefully Liverpool rack up some early goals and and see where the rack comes 70 and you start resting players and then they look towards Girona and hopefully get a longer rest because After this we'll talk about lineups, but I just think some of those players are, you know, they may they they they look exhausted.
Squad Rotation and Goalkeeper Debate
00:22:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
I thought Gravenberg has been probably our best player apart from Mo Salah and Kanate, but he yeah I just think he just didn't look up for it against Newcastle. I thought Robertson as well, you can tell, ah he's played himself back into form, but he's also playing a lot of minutes and he's playing all the time and in really physical games.
00:22:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
And I just wonder, you know, is it a case of asking them to, just just to go again and then you know what boys, you get your rest on Tuesday.
00:22:41
Jesse
Yeah, I think look, it's I think it's inevitable, you know, a lot of people saying that, you know, this player wasn't up for it or that player wasn't up for it. This play didn't really look quite at it.
00:22:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:22:51
Jesse
You know, these guys are playing every three days and it's not just that they're playing every three days. It's a magnitude of the games. You know, they're huge games at Real Madrid, Manchester City.
00:22:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yep.
00:23:03
Jesse
They're coming back from, you know, potential defeats from, you know, lower league ah teams in the Premier League. And just these emotional highs, you know, it can take it out of ah of ah of a player. And so I don't expect these players to be, you know, quote unquote, at it every single game. um It's just whether we can navigate our way through those kind of sticky patches to those kind of sticky games where we know that the team is not firing on all cylinders.
00:23:36
Jesse
And we did that underclop when we won the league. You know, there were games where we just didn't really look that great, but we we managed those matches really, really well. And I think Slots team, I think, I think they're more than capable of doing that. I think the the only thing that's going to um that's going to do for us, um whether it's at the weekend or just generally in the season, is just the accumulation now of um the injuries that are coming our way, particularly in defence.
00:24:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
Mhm.
00:24:09
Jesse
And so if you don't have that rotation, then you know you're asking players like Robertson, who are in their 30s now, to just play every single game, every three days.
00:24:21
Jesse
And I just don't know whether you can do that. So whether he, you know, says to the players, look, you know, one more game, and then we start rotating.
00:24:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
Mhm.
00:24:33
Jesse
I don't know.
00:24:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:24:34
Jesse
I personally think that he's just going to put out his best team and really just let, let's just go out and win this game. And I don't think, I don't think the subs will come, you know, after 60, 70 minutes.
00:24:48
Jesse
If it's one nil or two, no, I think it's only if it's kind of three or four nil.
00:24:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, if it's done.
00:24:53
Jesse
Yeah, if it's completely done, I think even at 2-0, I just don't think that you can, you can offer anything to Everton to a way back in because again, you know, if they're 2-0 down and they get a goal, 70, 75 minutes, then that last 15 minutes is just going to be an absolute nightmare.
00:25:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
Oh yeah. Yeah.
00:25:11
Jesse
And that's when the crowd will be up. So I think Slott, I think will just trust his players and just say, right, Best team goes out and best team finishes.
00:25:24
Jesse
And let's just put this to bed and then say we'll see what happens on on Tuesday. who's Who's fit, who can stand, who can run, and then just take it from there.
00:25:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. um Yeah, I think I agree with you on that. I think it's a case of just, you know, you can look ahead a little bit, but let's focus on the game on Saturday and make sure we get three points there. And he Sluts also talked about when Liverpool have dropped points, whether it was Arsenal, whether it was Nottingham Forest, that the next game is so important. So it's just age all yeah all that matters is winning now and keeping that momentum going.
00:25:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
um We've talked around it enough, Jesse. Let's let's get into our predicted lineups. um yeah Despite that that error in the last minute, and that horrible, horrible, horrible lapse in concentration from Kevin Kelleher, his form this year has been so good.
00:26:02
Jesse
Yeah.
00:26:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
And for me, and also I'm imagining for Arne Slott, he plays this game. Do you have him in?
00:26:19
Jesse
I was wondering about this, I think the natural reaction is to say yes, he keeps his place. I'm just wondering whether this is the catalyst that's that kind of brings Alison back in, if if this is the kind of I don't want to say excuse but this is the reasoning that Slott can bring Allison back in and say look you know this is why we need Allison in.
00:26:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:26:47
Jesse
It's not because Allison doesn't make mistakes. every Every player, every keeper makes mistakes. I think the real test now for Keller if he does play is how he responds now to that mistake because the great thing about um Alison and this is the great thing about all great players is if he makes a mistake five minutes later it's like he never made it it's just gone it's done that's it move on you know back to being the best goalkeeper in the world
00:27:20
Jesse
We don't know, I haven't seen Kelleher make mistakes at Liverpool. I haven't seen him make mistakes. So I don't know how he's going to respond because it was so late in the game that he he couldn't, he couldn't respond in game. He couldn't make out a really great save to kind of claw it back for himself. It was right at the end of the game. It cost Liverpool three points. And so he's going to have to sit and stew on that.
00:27:44
Jesse
for the next you know three days or whatever it is until he plays again, potentially against Everton. So I think it is a decision. I think probably I would say that Kelleher sticks in goal because again, we said the same thing about Man City and and Real Madrid. Is the Merseyside Derby a game that you want to bring Alison back in after yeah two months out?
00:28:11
Jesse
Probably not. you'd You'd rather have it away at Girona in the Champions League on Tuesday. So I think on balance, Kelleher gets the nod.
00:28:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:28:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. And like I said, I didn't see much of, of ever in the season or, or in their game against wolves, but I did see the goals they scored and the set pieces they were putting in and they put them right on top of, uh, Jose Sa the wolves keeper. And I think even Geller has a lot better than he is, but he was.
00:28:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
He looked stressed and i and I wouldn't want that to be Alison's first game back. So I'd go with Keller.
00:28:42
Jesse
yeah
00:28:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
He deserves it as well. He deserves a chance to make a mistake and also atone four up before Alison comes in. um let's Let's go to the back four then because you mentioned, I think you mentioned that do you think Slott will go with experience here and experienced heads.
00:28:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
But there is a case for some rest in here because my back four looks like
00:29:01
Jesse
Yeah. Yeah.
00:29:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
Trent Gomez Van Dyke Robertson. I thought Kwanza at right back did really work against Newcastle. I think he shut Docu down pretty well when he came on against Man City but start and yeah starting the game I just didn't think it looked too good.
00:29:12
Jesse
No. That was a sub though, right? It didn't start. It's different.
00:29:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
But I thought when he moved to centre back he was a lot better.
00:29:22
Jesse
Yeah.
00:29:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
um And then let me let me throw a curveball out here. We've seen Robertson play so many minutes.
Lineup Predictions and Match Expectations
00:29:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
And if you notice, I think Kwanzaa had the, out of that those two players, Kwanzaa and Gomez, he played against Newcastle. I think Kwanzaa had the tougher game. But he took Gomez off and I thought, oh, that's interesting. Does that mean you're going to, is he is he going to play the Derby?
00:29:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
Or was it just a facility at Trent going in and not ruin Quonset's confidence? I don't know. um But what is what does your back four look like? Because I thought there could be a little bit of Gomez at left back, maybe just for the height.
00:29:54
Jesse
Yeah, you've you've you've you've been looking at my um and my document here. um I've got Trent ah coming in at right back. I've got Van Dyke and Kwanza starting at centre back. And I've got Gomez at left back.
00:30:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hmm.
00:30:12
Jesse
um Just again, just to save Robertson, because I think if he pulls up with let's say ah a hamstring injury or a calf injury that he had last season,
00:30:24
Jesse
you know, we're in real, real trouble then.
00:30:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:30:27
Jesse
um So it's not ideal because Kwanza next to van Dyck, if Kwanza does play, Sean Dyckes will be like, right, that's it.
00:30:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:30:40
Jesse
It's like, aerial bombardment, you know, Arne Slott will be handing out the helmets to the Liverpool back four, you know, and it's just going to be an aerial bombardment for the full 90 minutes and they'll really, really, I think, really target him.
00:30:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. yeah Yeah.
00:30:56
Jesse
But at the same time, I think Kwanza next to van Dyck has nine times out of 10 been very, very comfortable. You know, people forget that last season he was outstanding with a most of the season um next to Van Dijk.
00:31:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:31:11
Jesse
There was only that one error that he made against Manchester United in the FA Cup, ah where Bruno Fernandes scores from from distance. That's the only mistake that he made.
00:31:23
Jesse
And this season, really, he he started against Ipswich and he made a mistake. But I think there's a wrong reading in in the sense that yeah people think that he was dropped and Kanate came in.
00:31:35
Jesse
Kanate was always going to come in, but Kanate was rested because of ah being in the Euros.
00:31:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
Oh yeah.
00:31:43
Jesse
So he got an extended rest. Um, but I, I don't have that much, I don't have fears of Kwanzaa, uh, in that center back next to van Dyck. And I think Gomez at left back proved last season and seasons gone by that you can do a very, very good job there. It just, it just means that we would probably miss something going forward when we don't have Robertson on the left, on the left bank flank.
00:32:08
Jesse
But that's what I'm going for. I'm going for Trent, Kwanza van Dyck, and Gomez.
00:32:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. I actually would really like to see that, I think. And also if you think about those kind of crosses and those set pieces, I think just the height of Gomez, even though he's he's far from the most aggressive defender, he's actually pretty passive in the tackle, I think would help.
00:32:24
Jesse
and Yeah.
00:32:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
um Onto the midfield then, I think it kind of picks itself with the Macalester injury.
00:32:33
Jesse
Yeah. Yeah.
00:32:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
But I will say that Curtis Jones in that double pivot or when he plays a little bit deeper, I think just looks so good.
00:32:36
Jesse
yeah
00:32:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
He's so good on the ball. And I think you'll be really up for this game. What's what's your midfield, Jesse? Because I've got, no surprise, Graven Burch, Jones, Sabatas Lai.
00:32:48
Jesse
No surprise. Yeah, it's it's it's gonna be that's going to be the midfield three. um You know, I hope in the gravel Burke, you know, um we'll be back to top form. um And I think Jones next to him I think Jones will You know very much be up for this game, you know being a local and he's gonna be up for the most side Derby and You know, so Boslai is he just runs and runs and runs it it never seems to be out of energy So and I think in a game like this, which is going to be really physical
00:33:23
Jesse
I think having Sir Bosleye in there, I think it's it's really important. So I think those three, you know, really kind of pick themselves. ah The only thing that I would um wonder about is whether Harvey Elliott gets minutes. um You know, again, if we're if we're in a a decent position,
00:33:45
Jesse
um you know Does he give Harvey Elliott maybe 15, 20 minutes to get some more minutes into his legs as well? Because he'll be a massive, massive ah boost for us um when he returns just to have that extra body. um And I think he's a player that will do well under slot as well.
00:34:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, I also think he's been out for so long, and we've all we've've we've kind of talked about him coming in for that Girona game. I don't think he'll start that game, but I do think his chances of getting more minutes rely on him getting minutes against Everton here. um But it could also be for one of the front three, you might come on for Salah, and he is part of my front three to absolutely nobody's surprise. He's the best player in the Premier League, the best player in Europe. I just think the superlatives are running out. He is kind of just one of one.
00:34:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
Um, and he is kind of carrying that forward line. I thought Diaz's cameo was really good though. And I think you'll see him start this game too. So I've got, I've went for Diaz Mo Salah and I've stuck with Darwin Nunez.
00:34:42
Jesse
Yes. I mean really?
00:34:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
And I think, I think it's a throw enough at the wall and hopefully something will stick, you know? Um, but we'll see.
00:34:53
Jesse
I've gone for um I've gone for Salah I've gone for Gackpo on the left and I've gone for Diaz down the middle because I think
00:35:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
Mm-hmm. Because Gackpo came off.
00:35:07
Jesse
Yeah, and and also I just think that Gack post such an intelligent player, that I think that you're going to need someone in that kind of, kind of wide forward areas that, you know, that that can see a pass that can cut inside and and cross the ball well, which he does really well. And obviously Salah does really well on the other side. um And I'm just thinking that I can see why Nunez would play.
00:35:36
Jesse
You know, it's a Derby, he'll be up for it. The light it is, it gets it gets sent off as well. um I just think that I would trust Diaz more um in that front three and then Nunez can play in the Champions League on on Tuesday.
00:35:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, hopefully, hopefully rack some goals up in the Champions League as well.
00:35:53
Jesse
That's my my free and, you know, Salah.
00:35:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
That would be nice.
00:35:57
Jesse
Yeah, do it.
00:35:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, yeah.
00:35:58
Jesse
I mean, you know, Salah could do with some, I mean, Salah, 75% is, is his goal contributions. He's been involved in 75% of Liverpool's goals this season.
00:36:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, insane.
00:36:11
Jesse
It's just, it's just incredible.
00:36:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
Insane.
00:36:14
Jesse
And I know that the other guys have chipped in. Gatpo Diaz has chipped in and I'm confident that Jota will as well when he's back. You know, but Nunez has, Nunez has really got to start delivering.
00:36:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. I think time, time is ticking and, and you know, I might've put him in my, uh, my starting 11, but in my score predictions, he isn't one of the scorers. I've gone for a Liverpool three, one win.
00:36:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
I've gone for a Diaz double and I've gone for Trent as well. I just think he, no, I don't because you know what he's, he's on a run now.
00:36:44
Jesse
no
00:36:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
And I think, I think he'll, he'll, he'll slow down a little bit and pick himself back up. What, what have you gone for?
00:36:54
Jesse
I've gone for, oh God, I've gone for 4-0.
00:37:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
If I have to clip this up for the Monday review, I'm going to be so annoyed.
00:37:04
Jesse
Do it, do it, do it.
00:37:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
I'm going to be so annoyed.
00:37:06
Jesse
I'm confident.
00:37:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
Go on.
00:37:08
Jesse
i think um I think despite all the fears and the and and and the nerves going into this game, i think that I think we score early. I think we score in the first 10, 15 minutes, and and then we're just too good for them.
00:37:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:37:24
Jesse
So Fournu, I'm saying, and i'm I'm going for... I'm going for Salahatric and Gatbo.
00:37:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
Nice. Or listen, I would not turn my...
00:37:36
Jesse
Patrick, just to seal the contract.
00:37:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. It's coming.
00:37:40
Jesse
Okay.
00:37:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's in the post.
00:37:42
Jesse
Yeah, it's in the post.
00:37:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
It might not be first-class, but it's in the post. It'll be delivered at some point.
00:37:45
Jesse
Obviously not, obviously not.
00:37:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
I appreciate that. Thank you very much. Well, cheers, Jesse. and And that's all for today's episode. Be sure to give us a follow, share the podcast with friends, enemies, whoever will listen.
00:37:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
Give us a review on your podcast app of choice and feel free to get in touch with us on our socials, which you can find links to in today's podcast description. Until next time, thanks for listening and please take care of yourselves.