Goal Difference and Upcoming Premier League Fixtures

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I can't I can count on one hand the amount of times in my whole career, my whole life that I've seen Manchester United look like they are so dominant and I actually felt before the game Peter when the teams were announced I thought really expectant got a big chance here today we've actually got a better team than they have out at this moment in time obviously they've got some injuries so I just felt they didn't have the firepower didn't have a centre forward we had all our best four players in attack on the pitch um but then I mean the madness of that second half were you know just mistakes, really poor errors. Uh and then I think when you make a mistake in a football match obviously then you can basically start to unravel and that's what Manchester United did for twenty minutes. They just lost their discipline, they were all over the place. Uh and Liverpool got back into it and you've got to give them credit for that but then in the end I think just manchester united deserved it uh overall I think the third goal obviously that they got was a massive goal for Cobbimania but also I think just for Michael Carrick to get over the line in this game 'cause it would have been you know, Manchester United have got a record going back to nineteen eighty four which he showed us, where they've never lost a match having been up at half time, and he wouldn't have wanted to lose that record today. Jamie, you brushed me aside at the start of the game when I suggested that Liverpool had a problem with personnel not playing, with the stars not involved. Are you able to use that as some sort of protection against the disappointment you're clearly feeling? Yeah, slightly. I think when the team sheets do come out and more about you know the goalkeeper Liverpool had really more than anything that you think you never accept a loss but you're going into the game think it's going to be tough here. You know where old Trafford, Manchester United are playing well, Liverpool aren't playing well on the road, and you know when you look at the actual team and what Liverpool have got on the bench, and it's going to be difficult to get something from the game. So I'm listening I feel a lot better in that defeat that way than what I feared what it could be a half-time whether it was three or four-nil , really. And as Gary said, that you know the second half just unravels. But that the worry for me was what we saw first half, and I'm not using the excuse of injuries. The reason being is I feel like I've seen our first half so often this season in games where where I don't think any football supporter or any player ever wants their team to be described as weak. And when I played we we were criticized on the flip side for that and say we probably lacked a little bit of class or a little bit of creativity. I'd much rather not win that way than not win that way. And there's nothing better than coming up against those type of teams. I mean we played in games you think they like to keep the ball. They don't really do not, but my god, you can hurt them on the counterattack. And that's what Liverpool are this season. And that's the big worry for supporters. And I know people outside Liverpool say how can they be questioning a manager who won the league last year? I think it's just the feeling that the more Arnie Slott's got his fingerprints on the team, the more seeing his team. And what we've seen this season we don't really like and it's not again it's not Liverpool supporters thinking we're definitely going to win the league but it's putting up a fight in games a little bit more now you can say that happened in the second half but sometimes a goal can change a game, you know, and it happens. Man United been all over the place, but it's more the performances, and I keep going back to that, what we're seeing. You can lose at Man United, the best Liverpool teams lose at Man United. You know, we haven't got a great record here, so to lose 3-2 with the team Liverpool had is not the end of the world. But it's what you saw first half is worrying. It's interesting. Towards the end of last season, um I was poking a little bit, I think it was actually on the podcast carro, around Liverpool 's recruitment department rightly so been lauded for a number of years. And I said, how can they be lauded if they've let the contracts of Trent Alexander Arnold, Mo Salah, and Van Dijk run down to nothing? And obviously, Diaz with a year to go . Um , and I wasn't to be fair with any surety saying that it's at that moment in time that they'd sort of messed up or anything because they won the league last season. But I think there will be question marks now about it's the first time I've watched Liverpool this season where I've actually thought looking at the bench and looking on the pitch, there's not much there. And obviously, that's not really Liverpool's no and look. I we have to mentioned obviously the fact that Ekati que um isak Salah uh Isaac yeah and Salah are not playing that that is them them three massive players but just just generally just throughout the actual team and sort of like the the the backup at centre half, the backup at full backs, the the midfield all of a sudden looks a little bit slow, and you're just thinking to yourself, you know, it's a glass half empty, glass, half full conversation, and to be fair, you can have that conversation at any point after a defeat. But it was the first time today I looked at Liverpool's team and thought it does look quite shallow that squad. Um and then they're obviously gonna lose Mole Salah in the summer and obviously you know they're gonna have to obviously do a little bit of a rebuild. But yeah, I I just think the Liverpool fans maybe watching that game today and I I haven't sensed and I haven't been able to buy into the desperation that they've had in and this sort of exacerbation in the last two or three months about the manager, about the football. But for the first time today in that first half I thought that does look vulnerable and the squad and the bench looks weak. And I know they've got three players out, but it it all of a sudden didn't look like a team that was anywhere near the title from a team that actually won the title. So yeah, just a comment really that you know there's obviously a bit of a job to do there in terms of obviously getting the recruitment right again in the summer. But that's that's what I'm saying, you can look at things glass what is it half empty or glass half full. I mean you were talking about United being a year away from the title I saw this morning when I woke up. I mean that is a glass half full. Wow. No, that didn't say that. No, no, you did it. I said in it' in a year or two you could you could win the title. I said in the next couple of years the title could be up for grabs. No, that is a glass half, but slam on. If the next couple of years the title could be up for grabs, I'm really relaxed. You haven't even got a manager. In the next couple of years, Peter, the title could be up for grabs. And we know why if City were to obviously be found guilty of some of their charges and they were to be ducted points, or if Pep was to leave. No, Liverpool aren't quite right, Chelsea aren't quite right, Tottenham aren't quite right, Newcastle aren't quite right. So my point is Manchester United, if they get it right in the recruitment and they've not done it. But what about the other five teams you just mentioned getting it right? But at the moment Manchester United are Manchester United are ahead of those teams. They're ahead of those teams. No, deadly serious. Right. They're ahead of those teams. No. Are you getting fooled by the fact that you've had no European football, you've got nowhere in Cup competition. No, you're not getting fooled by this. No, I'm not, am I? I'm not. And today, to be fair, I think Michael Carrett will come off that pitch today thinking to himself, that does really highlight the problems we've got at central in central midfield at centre back. So I don't think that at all. But whoever gets the best three or it's it's been like this for a few years, whoever gets the best three or four players in in the next sort of window, and United are in the Champions League now, which gives them a problem of more fixtures, but it gives them an attraction of actually being able to attract more players. And by the way, this is a big club that will win the league again in your lifetime, my friend, you will watch that and I'll enjoy it as well. Hopefully I've got a long way to go. But just generally, you know, and look, I'm not getting carried away after today because I thought it was a really poor second half from Manchester United for half an hour. They lost their discipline, they made mistakes, they lost the concentration, they didn't deal with one-on-one situations very well. well They, they actually started to give free kicks away. So there was it was it was a real difficult uh second half to watch for half an hour. But I'm just saying that generally when I looked at Liverpool's team in the first half, it's the first time I have been quite positive about Liverpool and to be fair about Arnold Slot staying, I still think that should happen. And I've not seen this what would be this drab football that Liverpool fans describe to me, but they watch the team every single week, and he watches his team every single week. But today in the first half, thought actually that does I mean big picture. Someone said to me this morning, it feels like the first game of next season, if you know what I mean given that they were both they will both be in the top five Liverpool I'm sure will pick up the points they need to to do and and there's I suppose this everlasting conversation Manchester United against Liverpool, who's better pla ced, and the fact that Manchester United have 20 odd points more than they had this time last year, and Liverpool have 20 odd points fewer, and there've been this great switch. And and even the conversation around, you know, a combined 11, who's who would get in whose team and so on. And I just wonder whether I don't know how much money each club, both these clubs, have got for the summer. I couldn't Liverpool have got, and I couldn't how much Manchester United have got to go and spend. That's the interesting thing they probably need another couple of 150-200 million each I would imagine and all your joshing aside I I just wonder who if it was the first day of next season who's better place I still think Liverpool are better place and the reason I would say is I think that's probably Manchester United's best team out there today. Liverpool are probably I would say three or four short there. They have got players who have have won before uh in terms of you're talking about the biggest trophies. I don't think either a team will be in terms of the title next season, for even Liverpool, I still think it'll be still would be Arsenal Manchester City. But Liverpool have got to sign a replacement for Mo Salah. McAllister's in there, and for me they have to find a right back. Now they've got another they've got a young centre back who they brought in January. So the situation they have a centre back all season is not there because Leone and Jacques , they're your two centre backs, they're back uh for next season. So they they they've got two and and then you're thinking okay, the players they've signed this uh summit, will they be better placed next summer? But uh you know what I need a central midfield player. I've just said that. What do you say? I've just said they need a central mid player player and it's a little palister. Will they're bring in Simakash back from uh Roma. Right. They bought Kerkers there. Okay. If you want to ask any more questions, we've got the answers for you. Because you do you are living, watch Liverpool. I I watch Liverpool a lot. I think they need a left back. Okay, well they've brought Kerkers, they're gonna get a new left back, they' justve spent 30, forty million on but the point I'm trying to make I still think Liverpool a better place right now for the reasons I've just mentioned. Manchester United for me and it's not a and Manchester United Liverpool thing, there's a false economy at the moment. Manchester United when they haven't played any European football. They they went out in the first round of both cup competitions. Now that can fool you a little I don't think Manch Manchester United will finish third this season. I don't for one minute believe Manchester United are the third best team in the Premier League. Now who are well I think Liverpool uh Liverpool would be a if if Manchester United would have been in Europe this season. No, I know, but if they were in Europe this season and you'd have gone decent in Cup Company just like what normally happens, you'd have had more injuries, you wouldn't have been able to see Now you do you believe that Manchester United are really close or almost the next challenges? I think Manchester United at the moment, to be fair, are the equal of Liverpool when I see the best teams on the pitch. Are the equal of them at the moment? I think I do. I think they are at the moment. I think they're the equal of Liverpool. Well they beat them twice this season and they're in the third. I get the I get the argument around the cup competitions and the extra fixtures and it's valid. But I don't think Liverpool this season have proven that they are better than Manchester United. I don't think they have. They've lost nineteen they've lost nineteen football matches. I totally agree with you and Liverpool have been awful, awful this season. We I mean we we're talking about questioning the manager's job. As you said they'd lost nineteen games. If they'd have won this game today in the last twenty minutes, they'd be level one points up Man United they don't play European football it's not a dig at United it's just a fact that next season will be completely different whether Carrick's in charge whoever's in charge the landscape will be completely different from Manchester United playing European football, playing three games a week. They haven't had that. They've got to make sure they recruit well. Well that that that's the same argument for everybody else, but I think Liverpool right now are probably in a better position in terms of the squad if everybody's fully fit and they've had players who've been there before. Liverpool the only team that can lose twice against Manchester United, be behind them in the league by six points but still be better than Manchester United. It's unbelievable, isn't it? Yeah, I mean we we're still not better than them. It's like Let me ask you in broad terms about them both um going into this game everybody was saying this is this is big for the two bosses so um where are they at off the back of what we've just seen? I think look Michael Michael Carrick will be very happy tonight, but I think he'll be really disappointed deep down knowing how he thinks and he'll have that good mentality that he's not gonna win that game three and four nil. I genuinely believe that the way in which the teams were set up before the game and the way in which they've started the first half, I thought with 20 minutes to go, 15 minutes to go in the first half, they should have gone and killed that game and put Liverpool to sleep. Because generally, Liverpool were nowhere near it in this football match. They had some shots from about 22, 23 yards at the edge of the box, which were a little bit dangerous because obviously Liverpool had like four players in there versus United's two at times when United didn't quite get the two centre forwards back to connect. But I I think he'll be a little bit disappointe d at the basic but he he's won the game and that'll be the most important thing. But I don't think he will be fooled, picking up on Kara's point on a serious note. I don't think he will be fooled by the fact of s w some of what he saw in that second half, he'll know he'll need to make sure that he rebuilds that midfield and that defence. Because if you're going to play 4 4 2, which is I am massively in favour of Manchester United doing it they can do it, you have to have two very special players in there and you have to have back players, centre backs who can play one on one and full backs who to be fair can get back quickly and make sure. So you you've got you're asking a lot. So how many players that they need then? Pardon? How many players that they need I think Manchester United need a left back for next season because Luke Shorter, if he has played every game this season and I think he he may struggle. They need a centre back, hundred percent, and they need two midfield players. They're the four priorities right now. The they need a left back, a centre back, and they need two central midfield players. They're the three they're the they're the players I would add to this squad. Now, look, if you could then maybe trade mount for someone else who maybe can play in and out and be a bit more flexible across that midfield and forward line, I'd say that's go for a fifth. But if you can't, I would say they're the four two midfield players, a left back and a centre back, and they've got to be top-notch, those four players. They're the that's the real priority right now . Okay, um, I've been told to keep this quite short because you guys are needed in the studio. So Well this is good fun. You don't keep it short when Liverpool wins seven nil Peter or in you know what I mean? It goes on for about four days the podcast, you know what I mean? I work to instructions Gary, I'm not a renegade like you. Um so I just think we ought to uh tee up Monday night football in the context of what we saw from Arsenal last night. Um what did we see from Arsenal last night? They were fantastic, I think it's the best they've looked, I think. I was going back through the fixtures actually. I I think probably since they played Spurs or weren't they won four one? They looked really good. I think they but listen, they were helped a little bit, weren't they by Fulham? I think there was a virus going through the through the camp. But yet they looked energetic. I mean tomorrow on the show obviously have a good look and we've got Thierry Henry on the show so we'll have a a real good look at Arsenal but it it was the goals obviously was a was a big help in terms of goals scored goal difference but uh just the way they looked that that energy didn't look fatigued, didn't look tired or nervous. Uh but again, who knows if that was down to you know how poor Fulham were in the first half. We'll we'll see that in these uh in these coming weeks. But it's certainly put a little bit now on Manchester City. You know, they've got a tough game going to ever won't be easy. You'd expect them to win, but it's not just about winning now, it's even more about getting goals as well. So uh yeah, I'm sure that's gonna come into the equation between now and the end of the season. Do you think they'll win the um second leg of the Champions League game, Caro. Yeah, I think they'll get through. I think they're a better team than Letigo Madrid. I don't think Madrid are that good, if I'm being totally honest. I think even in the first leg there was a twenty minute spell in the second half where be f I decided that it looked like m Arsenal for me were in big control of the uh of the game. I think the big thing Arsenal have done in the last couple of games that I'm gonna look at tomorrow is the deployment of Rice going a little bit deeper. I think that's had about had a big impact in I thought he plays well midweek in Europe away from home, showed real authority. I thought he was excellent in the first half against Fulham as well. I've been worried about the midfield. I think we've we've we've highlighted that a lot on Monday night football of like Zuba Mendy and Rice and how they're finding it tough. And there's just been a little change there in position in Madrid and personnel against Fulham with uh you know the young glad coming in Mars Lovers Skelly so maybe something we'll uh we'll analyse. I think the confidence from yesterday obviously Fulham didn't play as well as they did they did and do what, that would have given them I think big confidence to come back. Because there was an element of you thinking them going there, thinking they could get not I wouldn't say they was gonna get done over, but Simeoni can almost like suff ocate you and make it horrible for you and sort of go and get a two-nil win. You'll get a goal in the first half, be horrible and then get an horrible late. There's an element of thinking they're going to get played a little bit or they were going to be a little bit immature or they're you know that my that was my fear going into that game. They could would they be immature in that stadium and they weren't, they really stood up in that stadium. And then Saka coming back as well, obviously, there was a massive thing. So yeah, yeah, I think I think that that takes them into a good place. Can I just ask you very quickly because, I'm fascinated by this. Um when do players start in a situation like this start thinking really about goal difference? I mem I remember that there was the Brendan Rogers team, wasn't it in that game at Crystal Palace when they're 3-0 up and Liverpool had to because of the situation. It wasn't it into the the what what that meant Liverpool doing that it meant I think it was something to do with Man City's next game, would make them have to win rather than draw, so they did have to go for the goals to be honest in that situation. But what I would say is it was interesting what Michel Arteta did at half-time, because that was looking at half-time like it could be a five or six-nil job, and if that would have been the case, I'm not sure City would have ever been able to get that back. They'd have had to almost hope Arsenal draw a game to win the league. And he took Sakatoff thinking about mid-week. And listen, he's just come back from injury, they can't afford him to be injured, but it was just interesting because I think Man City if you'd have said to them at half time this game's gonna f you know finish three nil they'd have been absolutely over the moon because uh as I said in that first half it looked like it could be five or six and I think that would have been a would have been a mighty sort of big blow for City and something I don't think he'd been able to get by. That's why I asked the question Gary, because I think that's a couple of Monday nights time. Yeah. And if there's bound to be a narrative around that about Arsenal hitting them for nine, you know, or whatever, which is disrespectful to Burnley and I apologize, but you know what I mean. I was a little I was watching the game last night and I was a little bit disappointed is the wrong word, but Mikal Arteta maybe at the end of the game, he'll be happy with the win, of course he will. But I think there'll be an element of him thinking, I would have we should have gone and scored an extra couple. Will we regret that? That will start to creep in, but he can't let it creep into his language to the players that much. But he has to remind them take uh saying things like he won't be saying to them, you're improve your goal difference. He'll be saying to them, take your chances, be clinical, be ruthless. He'll be giving him those sorts of messages, I would imagine and don't st don't be c Because Don't sit back. You know, make sure you carry on. Keep on going. You know what I mean? Almost so sometimes at 3-0 earlier in the season you can relax and just manage a second half. They can't afford to do that. They've got to keep going. Pep wins by by any any tactic done he by any way so you have to think that Pep's gonna win by goal difference and we can't be done that way you know it's that type of thing really. So just finally in that context and all that context last question tomorrow's game Everton Manchester City. I think City win. I I look, it'd be absolutely stunning if City were to drop points on a Monday night tomorrow night at Everton. It'd be stunning. I don't think it'll happen , but it I don't think it'll happen. Do you? No, I I think City would win. Uh whether they'll get get a few goals, obviously they're a tough nut to crack, you know, with any David Moys' team. But I was just wondering going into the game, it's a while since City have played because he wrested a lot of players, didn't he, in the FA Cup semi-final. Now, is that a good thing at this stage of the season? Do you lose a little bit of rhythm? I don't know. We'll probably talk about that as the game tomorrow. But you know, will we see Manchester City at their absolute best? Because as I said, a lot of those players have you know gone a while without a game. You just sometimes need something. If you're Arsenal, you need something. Is it a red card? Is it you know you're something that's sort of like just completely blow s a game up from nowhere. And actually the game I I think's the I think is a massive week 'cause I think the game that Arsenal are most likely to drop points in, I'm doing the game next Sunday, you'll be doing it as well, I'm sure. That's the game I fear most., West Ham Ticklish won that, isn't it? Yeah, it's a horrible. I just