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Louie and Karl Post-Match Reaction - Chelsea 2-1 Liverpool
38 Plays9 days ago
Louie Easton and Karl Coppack dissect what's wrong with Liverpool following a third straight defeat.
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Transcript
00:00:00
Karl
Thank you.
Liverpool's Losing Streak
00:00:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hello, you are listening to the Daily Liverpool podcast brought to you by the Global Sports Podcast Network after yet another loss for Liverpool. That's three in a row, three in a week. And ah joining me to talk about what we've just seen is Karl Kopach.
00:00:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
um Karl, very few positives today, in my opinion. I don't know if you feel the same way.
00:00:39
Karl
I think the only positive I can take from it is I think we came out for the second half and I said on Blue Sky, more than anything, anything I want this Liverpool side to stop feeling sorry for itself.
00:00:50
Karl
and moping and just rolling it back four yards, then going back to the keeper and then trying to go forward and then putting it back to the keeper.
00:00:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:00:58
Karl
I wanted it to stand up and say, we're Liverpool, we're going to fight for this.
00:01:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:01:02
Karl
Where Casado had man of the match, in my opinion, but um ah no one wanted to go near him, including the goal, obviously, which which we'll come to.
00:01:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:01:11
Karl
but um But at the same time, but ive rather thought we came out and I thought the goal is a decent enough goal.
00:01:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:01:17
Karl
I laughed myself stupid when Gagpo scored because i was I was calling him to go off at least an hour earlier, yeah which can happen. We get the goal
Chelsea's Vulnerability & Player Critique
00:01:26
Karl
back. And I've just said to you, I think after that ends in I'm broadly fine with it because it's a hard place to go.
00:01:32
Karl
um Not everyone will win there. And I don't think Chelsea were anywhere near as good as as the commentators make out, which has been the theme.
00:01:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
But it's just a bit frustrating, though, because this is a Liverpool team that that that should be winning and would be winning this last season. And we've spent millions and millions of pounds improving this team, so to say.
00:01:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
And we just haven't seen it yet. So I... i
00:01:53
Karl
but but But money isn't science. That's the problem. um and and And I think that's that's why I'm i'm not... um'm I'm critical of the manager and I'm critical of the first team. there's There's players I'm trying not to slate because they've done brilliant things for us. But my God, how are you getting a game?
00:02:09
Karl
um And Ibu Canate, clearly. you know ah um i don't how he's...
00:02:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:02:15
Karl
I was stunned when I saw his name. and As we've just said, the left-back.
00:02:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, same.
00:02:20
Karl
ah left bucke um Andy Robinson, twice his age, comes on and shows him how to be a left-back.
00:02:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, absolutely.
00:02:25
Karl
Just aggressive from the first ball.
00:02:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
And Salah as well. I mean...
00:02:28
Karl
Yeah.
00:02:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
How many times did he cut inside and give the ball away or do a terrible slice shot, which would just go yards away?
00:02:36
Karl
Yeah. Yeah.
00:02:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's so is is it fair to say now i know we're only seven games into the Premier League season, but he's only scored one goal from open play.
00:02:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
Is it fair to say he's finally reaching his twilight years?
00:02:51
Karl
No, but I don't think it is that. I really don't. I think it's the system that's the issue. um Because...
00:03:00
Karl
They're all learning and new. it's It's a really, really weird campaign. Someone said this week that Liverpool's transition season is ah is a season too late. We all expected this last year, and I think we all would have accepted it last year and thought, it's not Jurgen anymore.
00:03:14
Karl
We're doing this.
Liverpool's Transition & Strategy Woes
00:03:15
Karl
He's playing he' got his own players now, and and that's come now. I'm not giving up on Salah completely because that ball with that pass with the left hand with his left outside of his left foot.
00:03:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, that was good.
00:03:25
Karl
I just thinking, i I've missed that. I've missed seeing you do that.
00:03:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's Isak.
00:03:29
Karl
Yeah. which is gorgeous. Even though that when hit her, thought is that that's going to be too high. He's not going to do anything with that. But my God, I just want to see you do something like that.
00:03:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:03:37
Karl
um I don't ah think Salah is an issue. um But then again, i am going to slack the manager off. He plays Frimpong in Turkey. And I just think, he's Mo Salah.
00:03:48
Karl
He's Mo Salah. And you're playing a wing-back in the front three who isn't fit for that role. And bearing in mind, don't know what role he is fit for, to be I'm exactly the same way Kirk is.
00:03:59
Karl
um I think it's it's the old so it's it's square pegs around holes. he's trying it He's trying to find a way of getting his main lads into a system that they're not ready for yet. And I think that the way it's shaped up in the latin then in the past week just makes me think,
00:04:18
Karl
we're going to to see a lot worse to see a lot better because he's trying to work out a system, which all managers have to do.
00:04:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:04:24
Karl
And the thing he's got, which is, which is going to be doubly criticized for his last season. He didn't do that. He just went, I'm going for three, three, these three are my midfielders. They're brilliant. and we're going win the league by a mile, which we did.
00:04:35
Karl
um ah don't think he's got that luxury at the moment. And, The games are coming so so fast now that he can't think right. I need a good sit down and think, who's my right back at the moment?
00:04:48
Karl
We ended that game with two midfielders in the back four because he doesn't trust his back four. He doesn't trust any of his right backs. um And he's giving Kirchhoff time.
00:04:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
And he doesn't trust Joe Gomez, which is which I still find strange.
00:05:00
Karl
if i If I'm Joe Gomez, I'm wondering what the hell do you want me to do now? I'll play right back for you and I'll play centre back for you. I'll be better than the right back in the centre back. and And he is. and
00:05:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
i mean, when he came on against Arsenal, he was absolutely terrific for the 12 minutes.
00:05:13
Karl
But he played... you know what he did? He played a meat and potatoes defender, which is all he needs to do because he's got Virgil next to him. And that's all he needs to do. Mop up, clear, pass. That's all you need to do there. You're not asked to go forward, front foot and march through the middle of the pitch.
00:05:29
Karl
You don't do that. um Canarte doesn't get a game for me for for at least three weeks.
00:05:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
um I'm the same.
00:05:35
Karl
if I don't ah genuinely don't see how he gets a game. And again, I feel bad about that because he's won the world for Liverpool, but he's phoning it in these days.
00:05:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
And you know, when Gravenberg went into the... what
00:05:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
He used to do these sort of forward dribbles, which Matip used to do constantly.
00:05:50
Karl
Yeah.
00:05:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
He hasn't done any of them for ages. He's misplaced way too many passes.
00:05:55
Karl
No. Yeah.
00:05:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
And honestly, when Grevenberg went to centre-back, it was like watching Matip again. He would do those mazy runs forward.
00:06:01
Karl
Yeah.
00:06:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
And ah so that's what we needed during that point of the game.
00:06:05
Karl
It's confidence, isn't it?
00:06:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
So it is a confidence thing.
00:06:06
Karl
That's what it is. He doesn't trust himself. They're not backing themselves anymore. They're not they're not getting angry and enough. There's no one in the middle of that pitch shouting and saying, right, the next five minutes we do this.
00:06:18
Karl
You win that. You go and Casado and you stand on his feet. You go and do that and I'll be the ball off you. And but they were... we we We're playing like we're scared. But if again, if that goes to 1-1, I think that's a point I can live with.
00:06:32
Karl
That's all right, because it's a hard place to go.
00:06:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
Fan Expectations & Confidence Issues
00:06:35
Karl
and And Chelsea were the exact opposite. Chelsea just thought, all right, we think you're vulnerable and we're going to have a go at you for this. I thought Kayser was fantastic. I really did.
00:06:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
He was, he was.
00:06:44
Karl
That's the but that the best thing he's ever played against us. and um And getting Gittins is good and you know he ends up winning the game but and Estabao. But... sir Yeah, um in some ways, um I'm not too disheartened because I think it's a good thing sometimes.
00:07:00
Karl
The problem with being a Liverpool fan is we are a support that thinks we're going to get the world just because we're awesome we're brilliant. And it tends to work that way. But when it doesn't,
00:07:12
Karl
We're not really used to thinking, this is where you dig in. um I'll never forget, under Rafa, we lost two or three games or something like that, and we had ah we we had a derby at home, and we thought, if he loses this, and it was the the worst match I've ever seen, and we won 1-0.
00:07:28
Karl
And it felt like Istanbul. And sometimes you just have to dig in and fight. And at the moment, Liverpool aren't digging in and fighting. But I think as a fan base, this is where you do it. This is where you support.
00:07:40
Karl
We are not good. The manager's making mistakes. I genuinely think that team... He made a load of changes. I think there was still three too few for me. But, so you know...
00:07:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
Do you know, the thing is, you mentioned how we came out of the gates in the second half. I thought we did incredibly well coming out of the gates in the first half as well. I thought, finally, we're seeing some fast-paced football.
00:07:58
Karl
Oh, someone said, Sturridge said specifically the first eight minutes were great. And he was right. We were great for eight minutes. And then we started doubt doubting ourselves and the goal's stupid.
00:08:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
Why did we start doing that, do you think?
00:08:10
Karl
Yeah, and it's confidence, I think. I think this is a side that has to with has to go a goal up. um And I don't know if it's tiredness. I don't know if it's the system. I thought people are talking about Wurz. I thought Wurz was brilliant for 10 minutes when he came on.
00:08:25
Karl
Really, really good.
00:08:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:08:26
Karl
That ball to Salah was gorgeous. and you know And he can do that. And Doug Leach was making the point in the week was how you get the best out of him is you watch him play and tell and say, what do you want me to do to give you the ball?
00:08:37
Karl
And he will find those balls through to Salah. He obviously whacked it
Defensive Failures & Tactical Changes
00:08:42
Karl
wide by a mile, obviously. um they just They just need to stop feeling sorry for themselves. They need a really, really good shout, I think. And the problem I see is they're getting a game anyway.
00:08:55
Karl
i think if you said I think if you said to Ibukunata, you're not playing for three weeks, go away and have think about what you're doing here. you madri Your Madrid move's gone. um You have think about what you want to do for this club. I think he comes back and gets angry and thinks, right, okay, I'll show you.
00:09:09
Karl
I'll show you how I'm i'm the second choice centre-half for this side behind Virgil. I think Virgil needs to work with himself as well.
00:09:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, ah just that goal that Caicedo got right at the beginning, that the just the backing off the entire way, it's almost inviting him to have a shot.
00:09:26
Karl
Yeah.
00:09:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
I know he used that incredible dummy before he shot, and that's made Van Dijk flinch a little bit, but do you think...
00:09:35
Karl
The touch is gorgeous. That little touch he gives before he hits it is gorgeous.
00:09:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, it's striker's instinct for someone who's renowned for being energy in defence and transitional play. But these are the thing is, professional footballers in the Premier League are all very, very good at shooting.
00:09:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
All of them. Even the goalkeeper.
00:09:54
Karl
Yeah.
00:09:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
I could see him.
00:09:55
Karl
And he did it a few weeks ago.
00:09:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, against Brentford.
00:09:58
Karl
He did it against Brentford a few weeks ago.
00:10:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
and But do you think questions need to be asked of Alexis McAllister there? Do you think he was a bit too naive?
00:10:07
Karl
Oh, he let's him go, yeah. He let's him go. ah The centre-halves let him go too. But, I mean, the centre-halves, they're wrong, and I'm not going to say they're right, but it's almost if they said, well, if you can if you can score from there, mate, you have a go.
00:10:20
Karl
you did. And actually, that's an incredibly good goal. um Yeah, McAllister's nowhere near him. Nowhere near him. And that's an issue for me. i could I couldn't believe he got 85 minutes today.
00:10:32
Karl
And again, I'm not slagging off him off. I'm slagging off his... I'm slagging off the manager for picking him because he's exhausted. You can clearly see he's not fit, and yet he gets a game anyway. and
00:10:44
Karl
Yeah, I don't know. It's just...
00:10:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
it's not you We're not used to this anymore.
00:10:48
Karl
up
00:10:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
Three losses in a row, it's just... that hasn't we We didn't even get two losses in a row under Arna Slott until this week.
00:10:57
Karl
but if it But if it puts us back to the drawing board, it's not the worst thing in the world.
00:10:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
Now it's three. Yeah.
00:11:01
Karl
If they wake up and think, do you know what?
00:11:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:11:03
Karl
We are not superhuman. We've got to work harder. We've got to think. we've got to We've got to box clever. We've got to think, what do we do now? Because we can't get it just on the fact that we're the league champions anymore.
00:11:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. if If there's any time for us to get an international break, my word, it's now. it's It's come at the perfect time for us. I think not just on a slot, but a lot of the players need to go away, um have a think and, you know, play under a different system.
00:11:21
Karl
Yeah.
00:11:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
It might be a nice refresher for them.
00:11:31
Karl
Come back angry.
00:11:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
Come back angry.
00:11:32
Karl
Come back angry. That's what I want. Come back annoyed that this has happened because they just slope off the pitch and, oh, I lost another one last minute. That's unlucky. um And that's that's not a good thing.
00:11:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
And also um Andy Robbo limping off at the end of the match. That's a terror. that's a on Honestly, you saw the difference when he came on. There's just so much more forward thinking. These long balls.
00:11:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
That long ball he did at the end to Eketike as well.
00:11:58
Karl
First thing he does... First thing he does, the lad who's playing down his side, can't remember was at that point, ah not Neto, yeah, and he shoulder he shoulder barges him, wins the ball off him, and then goes up the pitch.
00:12:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
Esteval, maybe.
00:12:14
Karl
And he's pointing to Gakpo to say where to go. And the difference between that and Kerkhez is Kerkhez would have been standing near to Gakpo.
00:12:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
Oh, yeah.
00:12:22
Karl
ah that And that that's that and there's a bit where there there's a bit in the second half as well where there was no one at left back because Robbo was being pulled into the centre.
00:12:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
I've seen the trends already.
00:12:32
Karl
And my mate was watching us and asked the phone, was like saying, no. And he said, Robbo's out of position. And it was Robbo on the centre spot who who defended it because he's a natural defender. He knows exactly the only place you can put the ball is there and I'm going to be there to meet it because he's a proper left back.
00:12:48
Karl
And I think it's been, and i get, you know, 40 million, who's are great he was great at Bournemouth stuff like that, but i um I'm playing Andy Robbo every possible minute I can.
00:12:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. And Robbo, he has 10 years on Kirkes. 31 to 21.
00:13:01
Karl
Yeah.
00:13:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, I i know 21.
00:13:03
Karl
Yeah.
00:13:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
know I'm 21 myself. i I look at a player and I do feel and i feel a bit sorry for him, almost to the fact that he's become this scapegoat at the age of 21,
00:13:08
Karl
I've been 21. Yeah.
00:13:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
you know, when you have done enough to cost 40 million in the first place, that is a responsibility you do carry.
00:13:22
Karl
Yeah.
00:13:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
And that's what you knew was signing up for when he joined Liverpool. And Jesse made the point after we lost to Galatasaray, I said, I was looking at Kirkhaz just thinking, what are you actually good at?
00:13:35
Karl
Yeah.
00:13:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
And he said, well, that's a little bit harsh. You know, he's, especially if you are going to drop him for Robbo, it's like, at what point do you think it's fine to bring Kirkes back in? And just think, well, we did the same with Simakas.
00:13:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
Why can't we do the same with Kirkes? You know, you're joining a team.
00:13:49
Karl
Yeah.
00:13:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
You can't expect to be starting every week. And now Slott has made him start every week and he's just not ready for it yet. He needs time to adjust to the system.
00:13:56
Karl
Yeah.
00:13:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
And that,
00:13:58
Karl
and And the reason that's fine is because that's what Jürgen did to Andy Robertson. He didn't play him until October in his first season. Not yet. You're not ready yet. Like he did with Fabinho. You're not playing yet. You're not ready. You're not ready for this system yet.
00:14:09
Karl
But Kirk has has but is has been involved in every league game this season. And I think he's had a good half out of all that.
00:14:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:14:17
Karl
And again, it's not it's not his fault. It's a new system. and i mean you know There might be language issues and stuff like that, but... um But I don't want to watch him improve as a Liverpool player. I want to watch Liverpool win games and then him come in and be ready for it.
00:14:31
Karl
And he's nowhere near ready for it.
00:14:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
Okay, what we'll do is we'll talk more about the entire squad. We'll do match ratings, um so on and so forth. But first, it's time for you to hear from our sponsors and find out where you can get your supplements.
Player Performances & Challenges
00:15:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
So just on the topic of new players who have come in and have been a little bit exposed, um we saw Alisson get injured midweek and we looked at Mamadash Fili and to be honest, I saw a little bit of him during preseason, but I saw enough to the point where I just thought, yeah, he's a very capable goalkeeper, you know, huge frame, ah comes out at the right moment.
00:15:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
And I honestly thought he was a terrific goalkeeper, today you know, came out the right moments. His distribution is what impressed me the most. his urgency to get the ball out of the box and into ah players for a counter-attack.
00:15:55
Karl
Yeah.
00:16:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
um It almost like, i I'd like to know the stat. I'm just going to look this up now. um The number of touches, he had 64 touches. So he received the ball 64 times during the 90 minutes.
00:16:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
So he had a lot to do. And I thought he coped very well, Carl.
00:16:24
Karl
Yeah, yeah, no problem. I mean, he makes one mistake where he puts the ball, actually led to the goal, in fact, um where he he he tries to put the ball over to Virgil, then he overhits it by a mile. He had a couple of them, but, you know, Stanford Bridge is not going to be easy.
00:16:37
Karl
um I loved when he made the first of his two big saves um and got up and shouted at himself at the post. That was really nice. I love that because it was a sort of, yes, I'm here. That was all right.
00:16:50
Karl
I'm okay.
00:16:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:16:50
Karl
I'm ready for this level. That was a really, you know, at a time when we were under the cosh. That was a nice sort of, yes, I'm all right. i really, really like that about him. Yeah, um'm i'm fine I'm fine with him, to be honest.
00:17:01
Karl
There's nothing he can do about the goals, obviously.
00:17:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, i'd I'd like to see him a bit more. I mean, he's going to get plenty of minutes knowing that Alisson's body is just made of glass now, and the amount of times he's been out.
00:17:12
Karl
Yeah.
00:17:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
So, um yeah, very impressed by him. Kerkhez, we've already touched on him. Bradley, on the other hand, I know he only played the first half, but my God, yeah it was... He does this thing where he just tries to take the ball forward from his feet.
00:17:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
It doesn't work and he'll pass to Salah. And if it hasn't found Salah, that's because he's already lost it.
00:17:36
Karl
Yeah.
00:17:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
it's It's becoming a bit of a trend now. And I was so i was so buzzing for him last season um because he he really suited that system we played last season running down the right. And he found himself in a bit more space, in a bit more freedom.
00:17:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
But suddenly, when we're getting pinned back, he's not the sort of player that can turn defence into attack and look to keep the ball going forward. Maybe that's partly due to due to our system, but he's sort of become a victim of that.
00:18:05
Karl
I think you can you can be brave, but you can be over brave as well. And he does commit himself an awful lot. but and But you've got to think, is that what the manager wants him to do? um It's difficult with fullback if you're not Trent, because you either go Gary Neville, where you barely make it forward.
00:18:23
Karl
And Gary Neville said i he only ever made two passes. One was into Scholes and one was in well into Beckham in front of him. That's all he had to do. ah His entire job was defending. Or do you go... going roll back the years now. Would you go Philip Degen, where you end up being in front of the forwards a lot of the time where you're supposed be trying to defend? and um And I like the fact he's aggressive. I think he got done today.
00:18:45
Karl
I think they played him absolutely perfectly. Got the yellow card, and then he's got to come off because he's because he's just going to do it again.
00:18:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah it's Yeah, at least he's getting subbed off in the first half. That's all I'll say.
00:18:54
Karl
Yeah.
00:18:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
um But yeah, just... so It doesn't fill me with confidence. It does feel almost like we are missing Trent now. Like, we're just getting us out of jail.
00:19:07
Karl
He's still the right back I'd start with.
00:19:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:19:11
Karl
He still is, I think, for me. Which doesn't say great...
00:19:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
but to What, Trent?
00:19:15
Karl
it's ah yeah The full-back I start with the moment is Joe Gomez, to be honest. but um And I've got no problem with that. who's Who's going to play two passes, one to the wing and one to the centre midfielder? He's not going to go forward with the ball.
00:19:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
um'm still I'm going Sobosly still. I think he's looked better than either of those two.
00:19:29
Karl
But you miss him in the middle, I think. Certainly when we've got no energy in the middle of the park. that' that was my end That's my only worry about that.
00:19:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
mean...
00:19:33
Karl
And he was great today, Dom. I thought he was shaky and I fine i thought he was brilliant. and It's weird. He he does...
00:19:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hmm.
00:19:41
Karl
I'll say this again at half-time. Liverpool have to play their way out of stupid... which is how we wait which how we got where we are. And Zabozla did that, I thought. and i thought yeah i thought it was really shaky to start with.
00:19:53
Karl
And then he just sort of started winning things and being aggressive and moving the ball. He still like gave the ball away loads because they all did. But um yeah but I think its it comes to something when your one your best-centered midfielders.
00:20:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
I do think he has been our best player this season overall, by the way.
00:20:12
Karl
yeah Yeah, I agree completely, yeah.
00:20:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
And, by the way, very, very harshly given yellow card for him on Kukurea, by the way.
00:20:21
Karl
Anthony Taylor, isn't it?
00:20:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, exactly.
00:20:23
Karl
The cameras were there.
00:20:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
um Ryan Gravenberg what do you think about his midfield performance actually because we've already touched on his defensive performance when he went into centre back it was a bit of an it was an bit of nothing from him again and
00:20:40
Karl
He's getting...
00:20:43
Karl
It's Casado, isn't it? That was the problem. Casado and Fernandes. I thought they closed him really well. you know that's And no idiot. you know He knows if you stop Gravenberg, going to stop the the midfield around him.
00:20:55
Karl
um um Again, I think he's doing two men the running of two men so often. Maybe he's a bit tired as well.
00:21:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:21:02
Karl
you know but it i don't think he was brilliant today. but But one thing he did do was put his foot on the ball and bring it out when he was a centre-back. And that's that's nice to see. He doesn't mind having the ball at shin length with three lads standing in front of him.
00:21:16
Karl
and And that's something at the moment. I feel better for that.
00:21:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
us ah just We just need to be better through transition, I think is what we... if I think that's just it, to be honest. We can't get out of jail at the moment. and As you mentioned earlier, it always ends up going back to the goalkeeper and it's just restarting.
00:21:33
Karl
Yeah.
00:21:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
like we can't We have players who are very capable... of beating a press, but this is a new team that don't know how to play together very well.
00:21:42
Karl
Yeah.
00:21:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
And I thought when we had the old midfield trio of Soboslai, Gravenberg and McAllister, it was like, which was today, nothing changed.
00:21:49
Karl
Which was today.
00:21:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
You know, it's just, this it's just the system.
00:21:53
Karl
But it was 30% slower. That's the problem for me.
00:21:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
Not at the beginning of the halves. And,
00:21:59
Karl
No, no, no. Started really, really well. Very aggressive, very front foot.
00:22:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
and then they scored.
00:22:02
Karl
But, and then we just, we felt sorry for ourselves.
00:22:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
and
00:22:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, collapsed completely.
00:22:08
Karl
Yeah.
00:22:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
um McAllister, you've already touched on him. We touched briefly on Salah, but I think we do need to make the point that I mean, you you think it's the system. I think that it's not the system because it's Mo Salah.
00:22:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
like He has had plenty of help from the fullbacks, but how many times did he actually cut inside and miss?
00:22:32
Karl
If decision-making was awful.
00:22:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
his His decision-making was horrific. I mean, the thing is, I say this, but the stats don't lie. He's created four chances, but he had three shots and none of them were on target from what I can remember.
00:22:41
Karl
Yeah.
00:22:47
Karl
No.
00:22:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
um he had opportunities. he really did. i mean, it's just not the same last at most sellers last season. i the Most sellers from last season I thought deserved to win the Ballon d'Or.
00:22:55
Karl
No.
00:22:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
But when look at when you look at what's happened to him, it's just it's it's it's shocking.
00:22:58
Karl
Yeah, of course he did.
00:23:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
He's been pushed aside to the right-hand side. And even when he was on the right-hand side, I mean, think of the... Was it the 21-22 season or the 22-23 season where he was just completely deserted on the right-hand side, but he was still getting assists.
00:23:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
He's not getting anything now. And e the reason he wasn't getting as many assists before is Darwin Nunez, but now we've got fully capable strikers in Isak and Eketike up front.
00:23:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
And he did that one pass for Isak, but that was it. And it's not consistent enough. In fact, it is consistent. It's consistently wasteful.
00:23:41
Karl
No. He's not releasing the ball quickly enough for me. And he he's he's doing that thing that he does when he's struggling for form where he goes back and beats the player again when he doesn't need to do that.
00:23:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
that
00:23:53
Karl
um A lot lot of teams in Chelsea did this as well, are not letting him get behind. Liverpool aren't playing the ball a ball into space behind him.
00:24:05
Karl
They're not coming through the lines. And I think that he misses that. ah So that chance he creates for Isak is because he can take a touch and look up. And normally what he does is look down and look at his feet and then just do a wriggle and then he goes out to for a goal kick.
00:24:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
What
00:24:20
Karl
love that. His miss is awful, by the way. The one where he puts it wide when Virts plays him through is... That's an awful miss.
00:24:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
do you mean the one right at the start of the second half?
00:24:28
Karl
He's not...
00:24:30
Karl
Yeah, yeah. But the keep the keeper the keepers gives it up, I think. That's just, he's in. There's nothing I can do. He's in. And he whacks it fairly, pretty wide. It was wide, but look, it'll pretty wide.
00:24:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:24:42
Karl
In fact, my mate said to him, that's a good save. No, he didn't save it.
00:24:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
No, he just scuffed it.
00:24:47
Karl
Didn't need to.
00:24:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
I thought it was Kukurea who got the touch in it, but then I saw the replay and he just completely scuffed it with his right foot.
00:24:49
Karl
Yeah.
00:24:51
Karl
Yeah, no, he just whacks it out. Yeah. Yeah.
00:24:54
Global Sports Podcast Network
um
00:24:54
Karl
He's not playing well.
00:24:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
No, he's not, absolutely. um Isak, I thought, was good.
00:25:00
Karl
Yeah, it's it's coming. It's coming. You can see what he does. um um'm I'm saying he meant it, just to give myself something for it.
00:25:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, I'm saying he meant it as well.
00:25:08
Karl
Yeah, I think he might have it for himself, but and he definitely... He's taking the ball away from the centre-half. That's what he's trying to do there.
00:25:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, and it was...
00:25:16
Karl
And...
00:25:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
He did a few good things. I thought his pressing was particularly good as well, where he chased down Badia Shiel.
00:25:20
Karl
Yeah.
00:25:23
Karl
yeah Yeah, he was we worked really hard. I think... um In an ideal world, I would have done it the other way around and brought him on and started Eketike because I think Eketike is just in better form.
00:25:34
Karl
um And um um'd I'd watch Eketike.
00:25:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
Although he had that niggle, didn't he, during the week?
00:25:39
Karl
Yeah, the cramp thing, yeah. ah i'd I'd watch Eketike water his garden for four hours ah because he'd do it beautifully. um I love everything about him.
00:25:50
Karl
I'm a bit annoyed that got any of his blonde hair, but...
00:25:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
Oh, he's terrific, isn't he? Oh, yeah.
00:25:53
Karl
Yeah, he's just a wonderful player to watch.
00:25:54
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:25:56
Karl
The way he uses space is just beautiful. um But you've you've got to play Eastside because he has another pre-season. you know This is his pre-season. and And I thought he did okay. He's unlucky with the chance it was that you know that that Mo provided him.
00:26:09
Karl
It was just a bit high. But I'd rather up and play for Liverpool.
00:26:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:26:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah Curtis Jones, I thought was pretty... I think he was quite at fault for that late goal that they got. I think he was just not aggressive at all.
00:26:24
Karl
Yeah, I can see that.
00:26:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
He was just standing off and jockeying the entire time. But you're giving a player in the 95th minute a chance to think about what they want to do.
00:26:34
Karl
Yeah.
00:26:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
um So on, so forth. So...
00:26:38
Karl
I think i think they struggled with...
00:26:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
did
00:26:40
Karl
Everyone struggled with Gittens when he came on. i don't know if that's a tiredness thing. But I think everyone struggled with him and, yeah, they were just sort of just sheppered him out and... and he And he goes and do that. I've seen people slagging off Robbo for the goal as well. But like again, Kirkes would have been standing next to the linesman calling for the ball. So, yeah, I mean, it yeah, he wasn't great.
00:27:01
Karl
He wasn't great. and But but um I'm afraid I start him over McAllister at the moment just because of the energy more than anything else.
00:27:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
Do you think then it was the right decision to bring Wataru Endo?
00:27:13
Karl
I did. um said to my mate, who doesn't know anything about him, I said, well, he's the player who's going to get booked in a minute. Just sit there and you' and he'll get booked for you. I can see why he's doing that, because he can go centre-back as well if they want to go to a three. And I can see why they did that.
00:27:29
Karl
He played one awful ball, from what I can remember. But and they and I think he just like played the ball into the centre of the park when there no one there.
00:27:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
don't remember which one that is. I can't remember.
00:27:37
Karl
and like um um It might be something else someone else, I can't remember. I know Robbo did that as well. um Yeah, I mean, ah ah't you can't really lay anything. He's only on the pitch for five minutes, but I can see what what he's trying to do.
00:27:49
Karl
is trying to getma I think Slott said, okay, this time we will take the point and just just and just get away from this ground and get away from this run.
00:27:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. ah yeah and
00:27:58
Karl
Just get a point on the ball, we're happy with that.
00:28:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
I suppose that's fair enough, but um I still would have liked to see Kiezer come on.
00:28:06
Karl
At that point, though, we wouldn't have got the ball up to him.
00:28:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
I know, but...
00:28:12
Karl
Neville said we were awful for the last 15 minutes, and I thought he was being kind. We were terrible for the last 15 minutes because we panicked again. We started feeling sorry for ourselves, we let them back in, and we just wanted to get we just wanted to get off the pitch, and it really showed.
00:28:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
It just felt a bit like give it to Gakpo and hope something will happen.
00:28:26
Karl
and that
00:28:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
You know, because it was...
00:28:29
Karl
Gakpo was awful for the last 20 minutes, absolutely awful.
00:28:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
But he had a hard thing to do because there was just no support for him other than Robertson, who had just came who had just come on and has got barely any football in his legs.
00:28:36
Karl
Yeah. Yeah. And Robertson was putting fires out all over the back four at that point. So yeah, it's tricky.
00:28:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, it's just, yeah, he it was absolutely hopeless.
Closing Reflections & Future Hopes
00:28:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
And um I mean, Rio wasn't brought on. And I mean, he wasn't even on the bench, but I don't think I would have brought him on for that last remainder of that ah
00:28:54
Karl
No, no, no.
00:28:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
match um But the reason I would have, the reason I say I would have brought Chiesa on is just because he's so clinical in the end of the match. Once, like, ah once you bring him on, the ball just falls to him and he scores.
00:29:12
Karl
Yeah. Yeah.
00:29:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
That's been a little bit of a trend this season.
00:29:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
um And a little bit last season as well, when the very few minutes he did get, um and by that, I mean the Carabao Cup final. just it You just sort of want him there just in case something happens.
00:29:24
Karl
Yeah.
00:29:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
And he does press like mad as well. He really cares.
00:29:29
Karl
yeah
00:29:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
um And I'm not saying Ekotike and Isak weren't pressing. I'm just saying it would have felt... I would have been a bit more comfortable with bringing on Kiesa rather than bringing on exactly that sort of thing.
00:29:41
Karl
make them Make them work a bit harder. Because I don't think we made them work hard at all in that game.
00:29:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, I would have put him on for Salah. To be honest, start him over Salah the next game.
00:29:52
Karl
I've got no problem with that at all.
00:29:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
give
00:29:53
Karl
needs to happen.
00:29:54
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, absolutely. right um Closing thoughts then as we go into this international break. What do you think is the number one thing that needs to change about this Liverpool team ah once we come back from internationals?
00:30:06
Karl
He needs to decide what his full-backs are doing. He needs to commit to his back four.
00:30:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
And that's that that's the only thing for you. I mean, I...
00:30:14
Karl
um Everything starts from there.
00:30:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
but miss
00:30:16
Karl
um Everything starts from there.
00:30:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
so
00:30:17
Karl
You get the goalkeeper back, you sort out your back four. Because we can't have three right backs. And we can't have a lot of a lad at left back who occasionally visits left back.
00:30:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
And I'd say get the old boys in, the more experienced boys in overall and sort of just ease the new boys in because it's just not worked.
00:30:37
Karl
We need a horrible 1-0 win at Anfield. We need a horrible, horrible, horrible 1-0 fight till...
00:30:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
I mean, that was that's what was happening for the majority of the season, though. just had horrible wins. And suddenly when we stop winning 1-0 late on, it turns into this. And its like, this is the wake-up call for me.
00:30:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
This is what we needed. And just, anyway, let's just hope for some nice football.
00:31:01
Karl
I think good will good good will come from this. but you know But as Liverpool fans were spoiled and sometimes...
00:31:08
Karl
You dig in when you go backwards. That's that's what that's what there's I'm thinking tonight. You dig in when you go backwards.
00:31:15
Karl
You've just got to fight a bit harder.
00:31:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
All right, well, <unk> we'll end it there. um So the takeaway, wingbacks need to be nailed on and just dig in.
00:31:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
For the love of God, just dig in. It's a big ask of these there' a big ask of these new boys, and it's a horrible situation for them to be, because I'm sure they'll be blaming themselves, but...
00:31:28
Karl
Fight hard to get angry.
00:31:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, we'll end it there. Thank you very much for listening. um I'll have another episode out on Monday ah for the Monday review. Carl, good to see you again. i wish it could have been in better circumstances than a third straight loss, but you know this is what we've had to suffer for many years.
00:31:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
um And now it's not going to be that bad again.
00:31:58
Karl
You can't have the rainbow without the rain, can you?
00:32:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
Exactly. it's not It could be worse. It could be 2011 Liverpool. um
00:32:05
Karl
Yeah, you you people don't know you're born, by the way.
00:32:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
alright thanks for joining me oh you'll talk about that i yeah no I wasn't there for that but I was there for Hicks and Gillette mate so I i had to so i had to suffer as well mate
00:32:11
Karl
you You went here for 1993. Yeah,
00:32:16
Karl
yeah
00:32:19
Karl
yeah exactly. Yeah.
00:32:23
Karl
Blackpool at home, this is a walk in the park, honestly. We've lost two games.
00:32:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
i i Actually, you know what? It's funny you mention that because I remember Jay Spearing and Martin Kelly and Glenn Johnson. My God, Glenn Johnson.
00:32:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
What a horrible player, man.
00:32:40
Karl
When we played Sunderland, our midfield two was Plessy and Jay Spearman wearing gold shorts.
00:32:51
Karl
Yeah. Enjoy your evening, everyone.