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Daily Manchester City - Big trouble as Liverpool do the double & Salah's unburstable bubble
5 Plays4 days ago
Episode 79 - Jools is joined by Louie from the Daily Liverpool team to assess and analyse where Liverpool got it right, City got it wrong and of course to lament over the imperious Mo Salah
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Transcript
00:00:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hello and welcome to the daily Manchester City podcast on the Global Sports Podcast Network. The only network giving you exclusive news and views on your Premier League team, the Premier League, women's and fantasy football, every club, every day.
00:00:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
Today, we will be reviewing City's 2-0 loss to champions in weight in Liverpool on Sunday. The last crossover was such a big hit that we had to bring him back on again. So I'm delighted to be joined by someone whose grin I hope isn't too smug, Louis Easton.
00:00:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hi, Louis.
00:00:39
Louie Easton
Yeah, thank you very much for having me back. and It was particularly satisfying just because you are the team that have caused us the most grief over years. And the fact that we hadn't won at the Etihad since before Pep was even manager in the Premier League was absolutely shocking and something that desperately needed to be rectified. We managed to get that done in what I thought was quite a sort of dominant, controlling fashion as well.
00:01:06
Louie Easton
But yeah, it's that it's like like you mentioned, it does feel like we are champions in waiting now. And thank you for the second consecutive very kind intro you've given me being on this podcast again.
00:01:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
last We roll the red carpet out over here, don't worry. So, as you said, Liverpool secured the league double over reigning champions Manchester City for the first time in a decade and took a firm grip on recla reclaiming the crown for themselves.
00:01:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
Ended 2-0 with goals and assists from both Dominic Saboslay and, of course, Mohamed Salah. City huffed and puffed, garnering 66% of the ball, doubling the amount of shots of the north-west rivals, but ultimately to no avail.
00:01:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
Arnislav's side set up perfectly to to diminish City's threat and look dangerous every time they had the ball. And two first-half strikes from the league leaders sealed the match and what could potentially be a very famous victory.
00:01:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
That is, of course, because Arsenal lost at home to West Ham and the gap between Liverpool and Arteta's side is now 11 points with just 12 games left to play. albeit Arsenal still with a game in hand. So, Louis, just sum up how it felt at the full-time whistle, knowing your team had secured the victory and league double over City and might even be where you won the title in the reigning champions' backyard.
00:02:20
Louie Easton
Yeah, it felt absolutely brilliant, as you can imagine. You know, getting across the line, it feels like now. But, you know, it's not done yet. We've still got, 11 at this point.
00:02:33
Louie Easton
so as As much as it feels like it at the moment, the title is still not wrapped up, but it does feel like the match that won us the league if we win the league and look back on this season.
00:02:48
Louie Easton
either just What I'm looking forward to most now is that match against Arsenal because there are two things that could happen well that I'm hoping to happen. One of them is we win the league officially against Arsenal, or the other option is...
00:03:01
Louie Easton
they give us the guard of honor, which would be unbelievable. But...
00:03:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
That's the goal. and That's the dream, isn't it?
00:03:08
Louie Easton
That would be absolute. Oh, that would be beautiful. and Also, the first time we will have won the like the Premier League in front of our fans as well. But, you know, this game just felt really sort of dictated by Liverpool.
00:03:23
Louie Easton
We mentioned in the build up to this match beforehand, if you remember on the last podcast, that it would be a sort of midfield battle. And it didn't seem like Manchester City even had a midfield in the match.
00:03:34
Louie Easton
It was that easy to get past for our players. They were just working harder, running more and just performing better with the ball. And it it was total domination from start to finish. And I'm amazed that it was only 2-0 because we created plenty of chances. i don't even remember Manchester City having a big chance in that match.
00:03:55
Louie Easton
And Soboslai's goal was almost like a half chance anyway. So it it was it was beautiful. Only downside is the Curtis Jones offside. That would have been 3-0.
00:04:06
Louie Easton
Soboslai just breaking the defensive line a little bit too early. But I can't complain too much. That's another clean sheet for us this season. I think it's been 11 in the Premier League now.
00:04:19
Louie Easton
And 10, what is it? 12 goals in our last six matches, I think. Something crazy like that. So a brilliant three points for Liverpool at the Etihad, to say the least.
00:04:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
Definitely. And where specifically do you think Slott got it right against Pep tactically on Sunday?
00:04:38
Louie Easton
Well, I just I just think in we defended very compactly. Is that a word? Our defense was compact, I suppose you can say.
00:04:48
Louie Easton
You know, as soon as we lost the ball, we would flood players back. We'd have a little bit of counter pressing from our forwards. but it was very strange the way that we set up. It was almost like a 4-2-4, which we haven't seen much in English football since, you know, the 1960s and 70s.
00:05:06
Louie Easton
So it was very strange seeing Curtis Jones and Dominic Sobosly being in the front line. But when we lost possession, we were quick to drop back. We got players back when we needed to, and we covered the fullbacks perfectly. I thought Trent had a very, very torrid time against Jeremy Doku, and he beat him constantly.
00:05:27
Louie Easton
And I think I saw on a Sky Sports graphic that he got dribbled past more times in that match than any other player in a match in the Premier League this season, which is just insane.
00:05:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
I believe it it. That seemed to be what we were seeing, didn't it? But I was going to bring that up later, but I suppose I'll do it now. It was a shame well from a City perspective that Doku couldn't... Some of the balls in were OK, but as we're always kind of lamenting about Doku, he can do that all day long, but then what happens after it?
00:06:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
it's the wrong decision or the execution for the pass or cross just isn't there. Or when he's going to shoot and he comes inside and looks to open his body out and bend it, you can read it a mile off.
00:06:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
And then they would just be swamped by Canarte and then the chance goes. But yeah. So the way City lined up without Haaland, but with Doku coming instead, did that surprise you?
00:06:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
And how did Liverpool look to deal with that? Obviously Trent struggled, but as a team, you managed to...
00:06:27
Louie Easton
Yeah.
00:06:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
sort that
00:06:29
Louie Easton
Well, the thing is, with Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahim O'Kanate at the back, it doesn't it almost feels like it doesn't really matter who's up front. It's just if they can get the ball to him or not. And the the support for your forwards didn't seem to even exist in that match.
00:06:48
Louie Easton
So it's it was a bit of genius from Slott staying tight and staying compact and not giving too much breathing space just because our players would be running all over the place when they needed to. It was almost like organized chaos from Arna Slott. And that's something that we saw so much under Jurgen Klopp and no managers before him.
00:07:11
Louie Easton
It seems to be the Liverpool way. And it's been... It was it was dominant. It was perfect because I actually think Manchester City dominated on possession, like 66% or something, and had way more shots, but there were no big chances.
00:07:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. yeah
00:07:28
Louie Easton
And that came from us not letting them... Not letting you guys play your game. You know, not that free-flowing football. And when you did get the ball into...
00:07:39
Louie Easton
those areas you'd sort of pass it around and then end up losing the ball anyway, or, you know, having the ball go out for a corner or something like, sorry, a goal kick or something like that.
00:07:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. Definitely. On or the organised chaos point, I think, yes, trying to trying to replicate that is reminiscent of Jurgen Klopp. But I don't remember a Liverpool team defending this deep and this effectively.
00:08:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yes, there's been periods when you had the best defence in the league, absolutely. Having Virgil van Dijk and Alisson would do that for you. But I think since lots come in, would you agree there's been a lot more impetus on those clean sheets on defensive solidity?
00:08:13
Louie Easton
Mm-hmm.
00:08:21
Louie Easton
Yeah, I mean, the stats say at all. We have less possession in majority of the matches we play nowadays. Maybe not as much in the second half, but it's like the fact that we got a 2-0 lead really did help us make that transition into, you know, if we lose the ball, don't panic.
00:08:39
Louie Easton
Just invite the pressure and then see if they can play their game or not. I guarantee they won't be able to. And that's what happened. it's...
00:08:51
Louie Easton
It's just, it's control. And that's what Slott likes. He loves controlling these matches. He loves controlling the midfield. And I think that midfield switch, having those two pivots in McAllister and Gravenberg, who, by the way, both had amazing, amazing games, that's been something that we did not see under Jurgen Klopp.
00:09:12
Louie Easton
And... it's comforting to know that we are a difficult team to beat. We're a difficult team to break down. And it's very difficult to stretch this Liverpool side. And I didn't,
00:09:24
Louie Easton
This is the first time all season where I've really thought, wow, we are a team to beat. When you've got players like Phil Foden trying to turn and not finding any shooting gaps, or when he would, it would be straight to Alisson, that sort of thing. So give i just think Manchester City struggled to cope.
00:09:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, and it does suit Liverpool sitting deeper because when teams come onto them, of course, that leaves space in for a certain Mohamed Salah. And after this short break, we'll talk all about the the true Egyptian king reluctantly.
00:10:00
Louie Easton
Ha ha ha!
00:10:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hello and welcome back to the Daily Manchester City podcast on the Global Sports Podcast Network. We spoke a bit about the match in the first segment, but now we obviously have to dedicate some time to Mo Salah.
00:10:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
We inevitably spoke a lot about him before the match and the record seemed to keep on tumbling for him. So I'll just reel some off. He's now on 25 league goals and 15 assists. This is his fifth 30-goal season in all competitions out of eight so far for Liverpool.
00:11:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
Fastest player to hit 50-goal contributions in the top five European leagues this season. No player has scored an assisted 11 matches in a league season in those same leagues since Messi eight years ago.
00:11:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
So this is all is unprecedented in the Premier League. He's surely going to beat Henri and Harland's record 44 goal contributions in a 38-game season and probably beat Shearer's 47 in a 42-game season too at this rate.
00:11:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
But more than that, he's well within a shroud of breaking all-time single-season goal-scoring record in the Premier League, which of course is Harland's 36. Might be tough, but definitely doable. But more likely, break the single-season assist record too, which is 20.
00:11:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
I'm sure you never get bored of doing it, Louis. So just talk to me about Mo Salah.
00:11:48
Louie Easton
No. It feels like every single time I come on here and talk about football, Mo Salah ends up coming up. And when he's in this form that he's in, it's really not hard to see why, because he is a force to be reckoned with.
00:12:03
Louie Easton
And I saw... this This is a stat that is more staggering to me than anyone else, because when you think of the Salah comparisons, and you obviously... think of Eden Hazard because you often see Mo Salah being compared with him.
00:12:17
Louie Easton
Now this is a stat that for me ends the debate. Salah has now scored and assisted in more Premier League games this season, which is 11, than Eden Hazard did in his entire career against the top six teams.
00:12:34
Louie Easton
ah ah just just Just let that sit for a second. that is That is an unbelievable stat. so So that that in itself is mind-blowing.
00:12:45
Louie Easton
And Salah, it's just one of these things where... You watch him play and you're excited every single time he gets the ball because he gives you that real lift and that belief that he can go and do something for you.
00:13:00
Louie Easton
So he's surpassed Hazard with flying colours for me.
00:13:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
i've I've had conversations over the last maybe a couple of years about Mo Salah, and I've always thought that he is one of the world's best players. And he has been for half a decade now, probably indisputably, right?
00:13:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
But a people that I've talked to, just general fans, let's say, not people to do with this podcast or whatever, that say he's still not a patch on Henry. and he And the comparisons are to ease ease and hazard, right? As you always say, that's who we gets compared to.
00:13:35
Louie Easton
Hmm.
00:13:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
But we have to be talking about him in the same vein as Ronaldo when he was at the Prem, Henry when he was at his peak in the Prem.
00:13:39
Louie Easton
Yeah.
00:13:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
You know, because these are not numbers that anyone else is getting. He's Liverpool's third all-time record goalscorer now and he's not even completed eight seasons at the club.
00:13:46
Louie Easton
Yeah.
00:13:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
That's an absolute joke.
00:13:52
Louie Easton
Yeah.
00:13:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah and like He's got better goal-to-minute ratio than nearly all the top players and his he's the highest of assists in Europe this year as well.
00:14:01
Louie Easton
Yeah, and he's he's got 51 direct contributions to goals in all competitions this season. 51. Bearing in mind we're not even out of February yet.
00:14:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
but Yeah, that's messy numbers.
00:14:15
Louie Easton
It's...
00:14:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
We're hitting messy numbers at age 32.
00:14:17
Louie Easton
is
00:14:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
Absolutely unbelievable. And he didn't spend, you know, some of the start of his peak in this country too. So it could have even been more really. But I'm sure we could talk about Salah for hours and hours.
00:14:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
And I'm sure you have done this season, Louis.
00:14:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
So I think it's time to share a bit of the love around and who else stood out for you individually in this game.
00:14:37
Louie Easton
Yeah.
00:14:43
Louie Easton
What, for Liverpool or for Man City?
00:14:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
Either. Either.
00:14:47
Louie Easton
Well, I mean, there haven't been too many players that did stand out for Man City for me. i mean, Doku, obviously, he had a decent game against Trent. But like you mentioned, he didn't really get too much too much change out of Liverpool defence. I thought Guardiola actually did have a decent game. I thought his... eight Because because we we hear a lot about Guardiola...
00:15:09
Louie Easton
whether it be good or bad. But I thought, you know, he seemed quite composed and he did have to deal with the best player in the world on his side for the entire game.
00:15:22
Louie Easton
And and I don't think he looked too bad. i thought Ake was not doing as well on that side of the Manchester City defence.
00:15:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
I don't think he's fully fit either, to be honest.
00:15:31
Louie Easton
Yeah.
00:15:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
I don't think he has been all season. He's been rushed back. All the centre-backs have been injured on and off from the start of the season, to be honest. And in these big games, you can really see that lack of connection compared to someone like Canarte and Van Dijk, where it's metronomic, that connection between the two.
00:15:44
Louie Easton
Yeah.
00:15:48
Louie Easton
Yeah, Canate's been quite inconsistent, but I think he's really redeemed himself in this game when it mattered the most. I thought the worst player for Manchester City was probably Rico Lewis. I thought he wasn't tight when he needed to be, and some of his decision-making wasn't great. He was quite sloppy on the ball. I mean, do you think that's harsh, or do you think that's a fair that's a fair criticism?
00:16:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, he's not been at his best since the start of the season, but I don't think he should shoulder any more particular blame than the general team performance. you know I think they just got outplayed by the the league's best team this year. And there's been many games this season where there have been individual performances that have been really poor, but I don't necessarily think this is one of them.
00:16:36
Louie Easton
I think Omar Marmouche as well. I mean, having that goal disallowed was a bit of a sting. But, I mean, it was a very well-taken goal. It's just a shame it didn't count.
00:16:46
Louie Easton
But someone I want to...
00:16:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
He's had a couple offside that have been really sharp finishes.
00:16:48
Louie Easton
Yeah.
00:16:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
He was out of position, right? you know the the The best game he's had, scoring a hat-trick, was when Haaland, he was playing off Haaland and they dovetail each other and come short together or one goes long, one goes short.
00:17:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
Mamouche runs in the space that Haaland vacates, you know? But without Haaland, it's a real struggle to score goals for this team, I think.
00:17:12
Louie Easton
Mm. He's a lot more mobile than Haaland as well.
00:17:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, off the mark, definitely.
00:17:17
Louie Easton
And, yeah, he definitely offers a lot more off, like, sort of off the ball as well. Haaland just stays...
00:17:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
He's elusive. I think he's elusive. and I think Haaland used to be like that, right?
00:17:25
Louie Easton
Mm.
00:17:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
But I think Pep likes him to occupy defenders for the attacking midfielders to have space. so but it But it's so hard to go unnoticed when you're six foot four and built like a fridge, isn't it?
00:17:39
Louie Easton
Yeah, absolutely.
00:17:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:17:42
Louie Easton
Someone i want to highlight from the Liverpool side now, Virgil van Dijk. You know, the it it's not the fact that he had a lot to do but it's the fact that he just didn't do a thing wrong.
00:17:56
Louie Easton
You know, he the on the ball, off the ball, he just sort of... he he He's just got so much aura about him and so much physical stance that he doesn't really get challenged anymore. People just suck sort of give up.
00:18:13
Louie Easton
I think teams don't like to press him as much because he's always composed. He can pick out a long pass, he can pick short pass. He orders players around, tells them where to stand, and he is a proper, proper captain.
00:18:26
Louie Easton
And I'm so glad that he got the captain's armband off Jordan Henderson when he left. I did think maybe Robertson at the time, just because he had he's had a lot of experience in his career as a captain, you know, for Scotland.
00:18:40
Louie Easton
But when Van Dijk orders people around and always perfectly positioned, and he's just turned into this true role model, and puts out performances like this, it's, you can't, yeah, consistently, you can't really look past him.
00:18:54
Global Sports Podcast Network
consistently as well.
00:18:58
Louie Easton
And it's, do you know what's so amazing is the fact that he will just jog back on a counter-attack and he'll get there at the perfect time for it.
00:19:08
Louie Easton
He'll be in the right position to clear it.
00:19:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
that's It's experience, right?
00:19:11
Louie Easton
He's the,
00:19:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
it's Obviously, he's got the physicality to get there, but his positioning is never off. you know even It's always accommodating for his centre-back partner as well, who generally is, well, always has been worse than him and and had to develop alongside him.
00:19:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
and So we've talked about three players specifically now, about Trent having issues, but not amounting to anything in the end. He's not the first full-back to lick his wounds at the Etihad.
00:19:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
You know, the same could be said for any full-back of the past 10 years. He's still a wonderful player. Van Dijk had that monumental display. And of course, we talked about Salah. So what have all three of these got in common?
00:19:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
They're all out of contract in the summer, aren't they?
00:19:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
So just how important is it that Liverpool secure their three best players for the future? And also, how likely do you think it is that each of them actually will?
00:19:56
Louie Easton
very well done.
00:20:07
Louie Easton
I think Van Dijk will stay just because, you know, he's our captain and he's one of those players where you feel like he'll just still be at the top level at 36, 37 years old because he's so disciplined and he uses his energy only when he needs to.
00:20:24
Louie Easton
And he's a role model leader as well. Salah, I think, is the big one because i think Trent's on his way out already to Real Madrid. I can't see him turning down ah ah ah turning us down for Real Madrid to go and play with Bellingham, to go and play with arguably the best team in the history of football.
00:20:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
I don't think it's arguable, is it?
00:20:45
Louie Easton
So
00:20:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think.
00:20:46
Louie Easton
yeah
00:20:49
Louie Easton
think he'll go there. But Salah will be a big one just because... The demands that he will set out for FSG will be any numbers that he wants.
00:21:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
Surely you've got to just slap it on the table, whatever he wants. Imagine losing this player.
00:21:06
Louie Easton
Yeah...
00:21:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
We've just spent five minutes waxing lyrical about him touching Messi standards and you're going to let him go for free? That's absolutely crazy to me.
00:21:18
Louie Easton
Yeah. Yeah. for That's, that's the annoying part. The idea of any of these players going for free. I mean, Trent with, with Trent, it's sort of like he came to us from the Academy, so he didn't cost us anything in the first place.
00:21:33
Louie Easton
So I can, and I can see the argument for that. Van Dijk, we splashed out 75 million for, and he loves the club to bits. He says he's fully committed to the club several times in interviews.
00:21:45
Louie Easton
And i just I can't see him going, especially on a free when he has given he gives everything to this club. And, you know, he's probably going to lift at least two trophies by the end of this season. I can I can see us getting the League Cup and the Premier League.
00:22:01
Louie Easton
Champions League is a different thing. But Salah, I think, is definitely the one to keep a watchful eye on. i i'm I desperately want to keep him, but I'm also really comfortable with FSG just because they've they're a perfect moneyball team and they've got us to this position in the Premier League without...
00:22:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
And it's not your money. who cares?
00:22:21
Louie Easton
I know it I know.
00:22:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
Put it on the table and keep your best player, man, surely.
00:22:25
Louie Easton
this ist See, this is the difference between me and you because you yeah obviously you follow Manchester City. You so you you've got your you're you to support a richer club than Liverpool.
00:22:36
Louie Easton
Liverpool have never been a team that have splashed out loads of players unless they knew that they were going to get 100% results from it. That's why we... low we We got Gravenberg for something like 35-40 million and rather than splashing out and going for 55-60 for a proven defensive midfielder.
00:22:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
Well, you bid 100 for Caicedo, though. So i think I think we can cherry-pick examples all we want. it makes It makes financial sense to give Salah what he wants because he's worth £100 million pounds and you're going to let him walk for free.
00:22:57
Louie Easton
Same with McAllister.
00:23:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yes, he's going to want a contract longer than his ideal, and then you might get diminishing returns in the last year of it, sure. But who can put up numbers like this forever? they No one can, otherwise they're called Lionel Messi and they're an alien.
00:23:13
Louie Easton
yeah
00:23:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
But there's someone getting really close to it.
00:23:28
Louie Easton
yeah
00:23:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
So I know what you're saying. You're trying to be fiscally responsible and that is how you build a club forward. But imagine a step back you'd be taking in the immediate future by losing two of these three world-class footballers.
00:23:45
Louie Easton
But I think also what you have to look at is if we do win the Premier League and the League Cup and maybe even the Champions League, that would give us more right to look at this from position where the owners have more say in what they want because...
00:24:04
Louie Easton
they will have the ability to go out and spend more money because FFP means if you win the league or the Champions League, that means you get more say in your transfers. You get to put higher bids in for players.
00:24:17
Louie Easton
So I don't want to sell Harvey Elliott because the difference between Salah and Elliott is about 12 years.
00:24:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
Just sell Harvey Elliott and keep Salah, surely.
00:24:24
Louie Easton
Yeah.
00:24:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, but Elliott is never going to reach that level.
00:24:30
Louie Easton
I know, i know, i understand where you're coming from, but Salah will only be at this level for another two or three years. So, i if we put the...
00:24:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
You'd spend £80 million for a player would be as good as Salah for three years, though.
00:24:43
Louie Easton
Mate, yeah, yeah i suppose I suppose you have it right, but...
00:24:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
His contract won't cost £80 million.
00:24:48
Louie Easton
I... Well, think about how many how much money we have to spend every single time he gets a goal. For example, goal bonus has been a joke this year.
00:25:00
Louie Easton
So I don't know. I don't know the numbers for sure. I don't know them. But I just think that our owners are the sort of ones that will make very... non-emotional and responsible decisions with their money.
00:25:12
Louie Easton
um um my mark Michael Edwards is an absolute joy to have at the club because every he gets it 100% right every single time. Who would have known that Salah would turn into this absolute legend it was him that signed him he got Mane as well so I I have trust and he's built that trust with us now and yeah I whatever happens happens I think Trent will leave I think Van Dijk will stay Salah it's 50 50 let's hope that he stays for at least a couple of years
00:25:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
Nicely summarised. We're going to take one final break and then when we come back, we'll find out how Louis sees the end of the season going.
00:26:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hello and welcome back to the Daily Manchester City podcast with Louis from the Daily Liverpool podcast too. So, as mentioned above, this leaves this result leaves Liverpool in a commanding position at the top of the Premier League tree, 11 points ahead of Arsenal.
00:26:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
Others on this podcast have spoken at length about how much they don't want Arsenal to do it. I had a message from someone from the Daily Spurs team today saying the same. Does it feel like even outsiders willing this title to Anfield? And what's the atmosphere like around the club right now?
00:26:51
Louie Easton
Well, it's very hopeful, obviously. Some of the newer fans, I think, are a little bit arrogant and a bit cocky because they haven't been in this position and they don't remember the days where we wouldn't win anything.
00:27:05
Louie Easton
when back Back in the Hicks and Gillette days. which is an awful time to be a Liverpool fan. But it's very, very hopeful at the moment. I think the general consensus is everyone expects us to win the league now.
00:27:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
You have to now.
00:27:20
Louie Easton
the full yeah before Before the Manchester City match, it was still like... Maybe it will just get to the final day and they might just pip us because of the trauma that that's happened numerous times with you guys.
00:27:31
Louie Easton
But, you know, this Arsenal team is nowhere near the Centurions. This Arsenal team is a team that just recently lost to West Ham at a critical stage of the season. Still a bit injury hit.
00:27:43
Louie Easton
So we got very lucky with injuries this season. It's not been that case in previous seasons. That goes for both Arsenal and all Manchester City, losing key players.
00:27:53
Louie Easton
The only player we've had missing, really, is Diogo Jota. And we've been able to put Luis Diaz up front, and he's done incredibly well there.
00:28:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's okay when Salah's scoring 50 goals or, again, 30.
00:28:04
Louie Easton
Yeah.
00:28:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
Do you know what I mean?
00:28:05
Louie Easton
if he If it was Salah that got injured instead of Jota, I don't know what would have happened. But...
00:28:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
Arsenal's Salah got injured in Saka, though, so i think I think they've done well, you know, kind of, considering, but the general standard of the league, the challenges this year, is obviously so much lower.
00:28:12
Louie Easton
Yeah.
00:28:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
You were top at this stage last year. However, there was only four-point gap, and both Arsenal and City had a game in hand at this stage. So, obviously, compare that to this season, and the third place is Nottingham Forest, and they've lost three of the last five.
00:28:29
Louie Easton
Yeah. Yeah.
00:28:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
So...
00:28:36
Louie Easton
I mean, yeah, it was a much more interesting season last season, just a much more heartbreaking end for us Liverpool fans. And it almost felt like a bit of a transitional season. You know, we knew the manager was leaving at this point at the end of the season.
00:28:49
Louie Easton
We were still integrating some new players in, such as Dominic Soboslai, such as Alexis McAllister, that we didn't really know what we were getting yet. And, well, something that's clearly worked a lot more this season is a lot less Darwin Nunez up front.
00:29:04
Louie Easton
As harsh as that is, we have had
00:29:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
you Would you say you're ready to give up on him?
00:29:10
Louie Easton
to part with him. Absolutely. Absolutely.
00:29:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:29:13
Louie Easton
I'm ready. i want i I know that he cost us a lot of money and that is something that FSG did actually get wrong. Buying him for as much as we spent and not getting someone like Isak, who was clearly the better option as we're seeing now.
00:29:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
He was clearly the better option anyway, man, I thought.
00:29:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
Come on. and it's get get Sorry, just getting someone who's had six to eight months on fire at Benfica, that is the number one recipe for flop in in transfer history, surely.
00:29:31
Louie Easton
Yeah, I well, the thing is,
00:29:42
Louie Easton
Well, yeah, well, let's not forget Lazar Markovic, another player that we signed from Benfica. That was, that was, well, less said about him, the better.
00:29:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
the so this The Serbian Messi, right?
00:29:51
Louie Easton
Yes, Serbium, that was bad. that that In fact, that entire era was pretty bad for us. You know, spending a lot on Ben Teke as well, and he scored one great goal and then didn't do anything else for us.
00:30:06
Louie Easton
Yeah.
00:30:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
I actually want to defend Benteke.
00:30:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
He got nine goals in like 20 odd starts in his first season at Liverpool. So I think the team struggled a lot more. And I also want to defend Aquilani. He was class, but his injuries were terrible, weren't they?
00:30:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
And you spend 20 million on someone that can't even get 20 minutes on a pitch.
00:30:21
Louie Easton
Yeah.
00:30:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
And obviously that's a failure.
00:30:25
Louie Easton
And then we had some players that left us and did phenomenally afterwards, like Suso and Iago Aspas, who, when they came to Liverpool...
00:30:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
Iago Aspas, I cannot, he's literally been one of Liga's best players in the last 10 years. i never saw that one come in.
00:30:38
Louie Easton
Yeah. No, no, no. I remember when he came to Liverpool, he had the body of like a 12-year-old boy and he took a corner. i didn't and I don't even think it made it to the box.
00:30:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
was the Chelsea game, wasn't It was the Chelsea game he took that corner.
00:30:49
Louie Easton
So... yeah yeah And it was it was hopeless. And then we sold him. And, well, we've all seen what's happened then. So, yeah.
00:31:01
Louie Easton
Darwin Nunez, I feel like if as soon as we sell him, he's going to start balling out. And... Well, that's if we sell him, but FSG are being quite reluctant to sell Darwin Nunes at the moment because we were offered 75 million from Saudi Arabia and they rejected it.
00:31:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
Shake hands on that.
00:31:20
Louie Easton
And yeah, i I don't understand.
00:31:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hey,
00:31:24
Louie Easton
So they must see something that we don't. I mean, his work rate is phenomenal. He's always in the right position, but he just scuffs it every time or he blu blazes it over the bar. Side netting.
00:31:34
Louie Easton
It just goes anywhere but the net.
00:31:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
he hasn't He hasn't improved since he joined. That's the worry. He still looks like the exact same player.
00:31:40
Louie Easton
Yeah.
00:31:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
And that player looked like he was such a handful, so hard to deal with, physically great, can get you goals good in the air. But then you're thinking, well, over the next few years, you'll develop that composure, develop the decision decision-making, develop the finishing technique, which a lot of players do do as they get older.
00:31:55
Louie Easton
Yeah.
00:32:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
But I'm not seeing any of that, unfortunately.
00:32:02
Louie Easton
Yeah, it's it's it's a harsh one because he has all the makings to be a star. And it's one of those that you can just see the vision. And he is still quite young. I think he's, what, like 25, 26 years old.
00:32:15
Louie Easton
But yeah, you like like you mentioned, he just hasn't been able to keep a cool head in front of goal. He doesn't seem like a natural goal scorer.
00:32:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:32:25
Louie Easton
And when you pay that amount of money for someone, obviously it puts a lot of pressure on him and he does care.
00:32:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:32:33
Louie Easton
He does really love playing football, but,
00:32:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:32:36
Louie Easton
you're looking at this from a from a business perspective. You're not getting enough product out of him with a huge long-term investment. And we'll we'll see we'll see where where he is by the time he ends his Liverpool stay, but it's not looked good so far. And also, he hasn't made much of an effort to learn the language. I haven't seen him do an interview in English yet. So, yeah.
00:32:59
Louie Easton
Yeah.
00:32:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
And these are all little things that add up as well. You know, just one last line on Nunes.
00:33:01
Louie Easton
yeah
00:33:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
Like you said, that he loves playing for Liverpool, but that kind of desire needs to be channeled. And Slott said, you know, he took that miss against Aston Villa so poorly that it was detrimental to maybe the team and his own development.
00:33:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
So, yeah, maybe there's more to come from Nunes, but he's not better than Jota. So it's not really even that big a deal for you, to be honest.
00:33:17
Louie Easton
Hmm.
00:33:24
Louie Easton
No. Yeah, he's just more available than Jota.
00:33:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
So I've got
00:33:28
Louie Easton
Jota just does stupid things. He gets injured too often, and he does these stupid dives in the box, which I just hate. But anyway, back to back to your point. I just wanted to say that word little word there.
00:33:45
Louie Easton
Hmm.
00:33:48
Louie Easton
Oh, yeah.
00:33:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
But he's just so smart.
00:33:49
Louie Easton
as As Liverpool fans, we know that.
00:33:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
He's just so smart about it. Like, he's just so smart about it. And because he doesn't, like, do the extras, you know, the screaming. Like, the referees buy it every time. He just goes and holds his shin every time when he's not even been touched in the shin.
00:34:03
Louie Easton
Yeah.
00:34:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
And it works every single time. But that's not why we're here.
00:34:06
Louie Easton
It's so funny.
00:34:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
Carry on. Sorry.
00:34:08
Louie Easton
Yeah, yeah, yeah. they I was just go say, it's so funny seeing people from other sport and think that's all that football is. I don't
00:34:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
But why obviously, why would they think anything else? Because we only get about 60 minutes of in-game action so the per 90 in football, which is a whole other thing, by the way.
00:34:18
Louie Easton
know.
00:34:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
You should do the rug do the rugby thing, I think, where the ball goes out, you stop the clock. Simple as that.
00:34:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
Time-wasting ties.
00:34:30
Louie Easton
i I agree.
00:34:31
Louie Easton
i actually agree with you there. I'm not a massive rugby fan. I know you are, obviously. But, yeah, I don't understand why that hasn't even been tested yet. i don't i don't agree with Asimbin, though.
00:34:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
it It's because of it's the i it's the iconicness of the 90-minute tag.
00:34:42
Louie Easton
Hmm.
00:34:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's so entrenched in football, the 90-minute thing, that I think FIFA would never do that, to be honest. And it gives referees more control, which is what FIFA want ultimately too.
00:34:53
Louie Easton
Hmm.
00:34:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
And we can go down conspiratorial holes here, so I think I'll just wrap up the podcast instead.
00:35:03
Louie Easton
Yeah, we'll do that for a wildcard one day, how about that?........................
00:35:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
so yeah Yeah, good point. So I've got two more questions and for you that are actually relevant. So firstly, do you think this level of ease in racing away for the title will be maintained in the years moving forward?
00:35:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
Or do you expect a stronger and better challenge next season, hopefully most prominently from City perhaps?
00:35:25
Louie Easton
Well, I mean, I mentioned earlier that this season has just been very strange because Arsenal have missed some of their best players. You know, they had Odegaard, Saliva and more notably Saka out this season. And if they had all of those players fit, it wouldn't look like we were running away with it as much.
00:35:42
Louie Easton
And same with City, you know, rushing De Bruyne back from injury, that was never going to work. Rushing other players that you mentioned earlier, from injury it yeah so it's it's one of those things where it's just a bit of bad luck from the other teams and Liverpool the only ones that haven't suffered from that this season so I don't think this will be maintained I think City what they what you guys just need to do is go back and regroup and rebuild and I think that is what you lot are trying to do at the moment I'm not sure how much longer Pep Guardiola will be there I
00:35:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
Every centre-back. Every centre-back.
00:36:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think this is relit a fire in him, to be quite honest. I think if he won five in a row this season, I think he goes. But I think he loves the club so much and he feels so responsible for it. And in part, he is, of course. you know He's the one that sets the team up and refused to adapt when things were going terribly.
00:36:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
Obviously, he's such a legend that... he's not ever in danger of losing his job and he has earned the right for it to go however he wants, you know. But yeah, I think this is he doesn't want to leave the club in in this position. So I think he might even stay longer than he was originally planning.
00:36:49
Louie Easton
Well, that's an interesting way of looking at that I haven't even considered.
00:36:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
it So it could be it could have been short-term pain for even longer-term gain for City, really.
00:36:53
Louie Easton
Yeah, maybe. Well, that if you're a City fan, like like yeah you guys all are, then it will be the way to look at it, I'm sure.
00:37:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, okay. so last question, and I'm definitely going to put you on the spot with this. so Right now, with what you've seen, is this team better than anything you've seen under Jurgen Klopp?
00:37:18
Louie Easton
nice No, no, it's not. that two thousand
00:37:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
Elaborate.
00:37:21
Louie Easton
That 2018-19 team that lost by one point but won the Champions League was phenomenal. and and i And I understand when you look back, the individuals weren't great, but the fact that we pushed you guys to the very, very end and only finished behind by one point, still on 97 points.
00:37:42
Louie Easton
In any other season, we win that other than the Centurions. So, it yes.
00:37:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
In any league in the world too, probably. At any era, you know.
00:37:49
Louie Easton
ah ah so So I think that's the best Liverpool team I've ever seen. Or maybe that short period in the first half of the 2017-18 season when we had Coutinho, Mane, Firmino and Salah,
00:38:01
Louie Easton
all at the club at the same time. That was such a great time to be a Liverpool fan. But it's that 2018-19 season, the one that won the Champions League, the one that beat Barcelona 4-0 at Anfield while still missing, Salah.
00:38:14
Louie Easton
um um i see it it's it It was more than just the team. It was the way they played against each other. Henderson as the captain, Milner as the vice captain, getting assists.
00:38:25
Louie Easton
so many So many, I think more assists than any other player in Champions League history in that season where we won the Champions League. So that would be the team for me.
00:38:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
Okay, so I said last one, but I'm just going to ask you one quick one. Can this team get to that level then?
00:38:42
Louie Easton
I don't see why not, because we've got all of the makings for that. And this is their second season together, and they're already winning the Premier League, already in a League Cup final. And we'll see what happens in the Champions League as well. But the fact we won the group stage of that is very, very interesting.
00:39:00
Louie Easton
uh i don't yeah i don't see why not let's give it a go and i'm really enjoying how good we are both defensively and offensively this is slot's first season just what will be like in three years time when he knows his team inside out and he's been to these uh heights before
00:39:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
And he's not even signed a player yet.
00:39:21
Louie Easton
yeah well kiesa but do we count to him
00:39:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
Oh, yeah. no. no you know You know what i mean.
00:39:26
Louie Easton
Yeah, he hasn't signed a star player that he's integrated into the first team yet. There we go.
00:39:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
Sure. Thank you. on that On that lovely correction, we'll we'll end this episode there. and Thank you all so much for listening. Thank you to Louis for joining us again.
00:39:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hopefully it won't be the last time we see him on this channel.
00:39:43
Louie Easton
yes
00:39:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
Stay tuned, like and share everything that we're doing on this journey and stay tuned for more massive matches to come. City, of course, got Spurs on Wednesday, so we'll be covering that.
00:39:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
and everything as we get to crunch time for the end of the season. I've been Jules Jordan Probat. We've been the Daily Manchester City podcast on the Global Sports Podcast Network. I hope you have a wonderful of your day.
00:40:10
Louie Easton
Great.