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Right now, up to 55% off your Babel subscription at babble.com/butifypodcast, spelled b-a-b-b-e-l.com/butifypodcast. Rules and restrictions may apply. This is a message from sponsor Intuit TurboTax. Taxes was getting frustrated by your forms. Now, taxes is uploading your forms with a snap and a TurboTax expert will do your taxes for you. One who's backed by the latest tech, which cross checks millions of data points for absolute accuracy, all of which makes it easy for you to get the most moneyback guaranteed. Get an expert now at TurboTax.com, only available with TurboTax Live Full Service. Seek guaranteed details at TurboTax.com/guarantees. [MUSIC] >> Hello, good evening. Welcome to Talking Comp. It's me, Chris Brack. I'm here with Kev and Ashley. We're back again, I hope a bit more of a cheery show than last time. Let's go to talk about the Premier League season so far, and key moments, and basically just have a little bit of a Liverpool loving. Because quite frankly, when Tuesday night was a bit rough, so we all needed a little bit of a pick-be-up. So, Ashley, happy to recover from Tuesday. >> Yeah, I haven't really been able to bring myself to watch too many of the European games. I did watch the Madrid game yesterday. I'm still a little bit bitter, but there's so much to look forward to, and I'm just trying to keep telling myself that. There's a trophy to win this weekend, so there are bright things on the horizon. >> Cool, we'll be careful. We'll be kept still, or we'll have to keep. >> No, we're all good. What's the one last night in that penalty shootout still flummoxes me? >> To this- >> Only Real Madrid cat that decision. I'm telling you, only Real Madrid cat that decision. >> That is- >> They're going to work with it, apparently. UEFA and IFAB are going to review it as a rule. >> And it needs to, it's nonsense. >> It's not intentional, that was not the way, that wasn't the purpose for that rule. >> Now 100%, it was an absolute joke. I watched tonight, and I swear to God, I've seen one of the worst refereeing performances of my life- >> On the Australian game. >> Yeah, the second penalty- >> How did he win? >> How? How? >> I was sat into a man united friend during the game, and it's like, he was just laughing. He's like, I can't believe his thing, he's giving it. >> It's a fake, he's got a fake, he's fucking charged. >> I mean, my God, the guy, the defender literally just stands in the one spot. And the fullback runs at him, falls over, and gets a pen. Bad scenes, and then he gave another one that was overturned. And that would have been hatchet penalties for Bruno. He said he got a hatchet the other way, it scored a really good goal in the counter. >> And that's the kind that gave the red card that I was just talking about. For me, it was never a red card. Like there was a covering defender like 10 yards away. >> I tell you what, that's for me, that was right on the border of a red. And I think he was far enough away that if the four, if Xerxes gets one more stride in with the ball, he's in it. And all he has to do, can he get a shot from there? >> Yes, but it's right on the limit. It's at least doesn't debate about it. >> Yeah, I don't think so. >> There's debate about it at least. Yeah, Thor says they're a good process, yeah, me. I mean, the Premier League has its issues, make no mistake, they're a legion. But man, that one was wow. If you guys get a chance to see that tonight on the Internet, just check it out. But yeah, I'm over arcing, I'll never ever, ever, ever, it's in the vault with the Man United's 2-2 game this season that I will never, ever, ever watch it again. >> But- >> Do you know what I've never watched? Still to say, Steve and Jerry's last game of stone, cuz I couldn't get a stream to watch it. And the score, so I've never seen it. So I'm kind of like, I've never gone to, I've seen Jerry's goal. Cuz it appears in the highlights package of all these great goals. But I've never actually seen this, I'm a bit like, ain't never happened. Cuz that's just like, I'm quite happy in my head school, we'll pretend I'm not happy. Like, if I have a TV series, I really like, sometimes I won't watch the last episode. So like in my mind, it still exists forever. It's a very bizarre personal quirk, but that's kind of what that reminds me of. >> Look, have we finally broken? >> [LAUGH] >> Talking cots, finally broken, that's it now, she's part of the club. >> She lasted longer than I thought, I'll give her credit. >> She first, you know what's crazy, it's gonna be one year to the day tomorrow. >> What's that? >> Since I joined up. >> Really? >> Yeah. >> Wow, that's long, doesn't it? >> How does it look like it? >> Really, look at that year. >> I don't know. >> Anyway, can we talk about what we're supposed to be here talking about? >> Yes, sorry. >> Let's keep rattling on. >> All these lovely people decided to turn their internet on and tune it to the three of us. >> We're just shooting at it. >> We're just shooting at it. >> We're just shooting at it. >> We're just shooting at it. >> Yeah, this is more than a big big. >> It's like a normal shot as well. >> This would depend a big box or just a horse, three chat shite. >> [LAUGH] >> So, what we thought we'd have a chat about is, we've got nine games left, nine games left, isn't it? We're 15 points clear, so the league's looking rosy, all things look good. So, we thought we'd have a look at what we think are key games, big moments for Liverpool and the Premier League in general for where we got up. So, Kent, do you want to kick us off? Because you sent me- >> Yeah. >> Just so you know, Kent said there's some research where based on all the Google, it was like five pages long of notes. And I was like, he just looks just jazzy, j at GPT and honestly, it's five pages, it wants up, which takes a long time to scroll. >> [LAUGH] >> But it was worth it. >> It was an interesting read, wasn't it? No, look, I settled, I mean, I settled on a game where I've been fairly convinced since before Christmas that I think we've got a real chance of winning the league and I thought if we've got to win it, I think it will be done by Easter. Remember being on the show, we'll have, and I said that. >> I think in our group, you were the first one to, out of you, even back to go, that's the league done. >> Yeah, it's, I mean, there's an awful lot of things that led me to that. But, and I'm sure we'll chat about it later, but for me, there was a key moment. For my key moment in the season so far for me was the Brentford game. The two know a way to Brentford, and I remember it was a three o'clock kickoff. And we were all sat, we were watching the game. And about one chance that Brentford had, we battered him from pillar to post. Fleckin made some outstanding saves, we had ridiculous amount of shots. And we absolutely pummeled him for the best part of that game. It was one of the best performances I think we've had a way to Brentford. That I've seen since they come up, cuz normally they're a dog of a place to go to, and they can make it really hard for you. But this time we were really, really good, but it took two lace winners. We wanted to know in the end, it was Darwin Nunes scored from across from Trent, that he just turned in one touch finish. And the second one was in, they were both an injury time. The second one was, I think it might have been Elias. Elliott, yeah, it was Kane Elliott with a little link up. Yeah, Elliott was coming in, and the ball was really on to play out onto the right. But he played it into the left, and Darwin took the touch, took another touch inside, and then hits it, and scored it was to no. The first one he got booked for his celebration because the shirt went up in the air. And it was mental, and I can remember coming on the pod. And it was just pure relief at that stage when we were coming on to do the post match. >> That was such a hard podcast for me to come on for, that was such a hard. Because my provider cut all feeds two seconds before both of those goals. I did not do both of those goals live. And then I had to come on here and watch you guys just be an ecstasy. And I'm just sitting there seething at the US coverage of that game. And it's not because I didn't want to watch. I didn't turn it off or anything. And there were people in the chat that were implying that for some God for a second reason I turned the chat, they turned the game off. No, no, no, I did not. I got caught. Everyone in the US got caught. And so it's a memorable game, but for me, all the wrong reasons. >> Yeah, here's the thing with this game. Leading into this, we beat Nackerton and Nicole. We lost a way to Spurs and we had back to back draws in the league. And there was a lot of talk and chat like this is Liverpool in January. This is kind of what happens. We always tend to have a little stutter in January. And here we are, 90th minute away to Brentford. And we've huffed and puffed and quite 15 kick off was Arsenal against Villa. And by all accounts, because when we come out and we were chatting away, someone put in the chat that it was mentioned that the Arsenal players were having their warm up and the scores came in. And their fans just like a collective, a collective girl. And like the players would have known that and felt that. And it ended up with Arsenal. We got the three points, everyone delighted. We had a great show, we were absolutely fantastic, as per usual. But Arsenal played Villa, and this was a Villa side that were starting to find their form. They were starting to find their feet. But Arsenal still had all the players that are all their forwards and what have you. It went to nil, they were to nil up a half time. And Villa managed to get it back to 2-2 and it finished up, but Arsenal had a goal disallowed for Hamble. It was a shot from outside the box and it went in off of Havert's hand and went in and it was disallowed. So Arsenal come away from that with a draw. So in the space of really two hours, we were potentially dropping two points away to Brentford. And Arsenal potentially getting three and it being back to within a game. The margin between the top two sides, between having a one game margin to us having a three game margin at the end of it. Because I think we ended up being seven points clear at the top of the table at that point. And that for me was unreal. It was similar to when we won the league, in the space of a couple of weeks, the whole league can just explode and you can disappear out into the horizon and you're gone. That for me, that moment, that two hours for me felt like a massive change, a massive sea change. Good, good. Can you probably make some great points there, but sorry me. And actually we'll just sort of go back and forth. Yeah, I'm not even. I mean, I'm trying to be using his hosting powers. Yeah, I'm not even. You were offered to be host first. He said, though, so I know it's fair. Yeah, no, I wasn't. That Brentford one felt like a bit of a. I think there was a slight start to get a little bit of concern, you know, with, you know, is this going to be a little bit like last season? Well, you know, we have a little falter and, you know, it allows people back in. But yeah, that felt like a big moment. I mean, Ash for you, you know, what's up like big moments in the league for you. I mean, I feel like the big moments are sort of bookended for me by the two city performances. And I was talking to you guys before we came on about more of a feeling that I started getting where there was that game. Right around it was the U.S. Thanksgiving, which was the 25th ish of November, where we had that that big game week where we played Madrid and then we played city and it was kind of built up by the media as this kind of week of doom or week of death or whatever. And I remember just being incredibly nervous. I was traveling. I was going to see family on the other side of the country. And I don't know about you guys, but I always have like match routines. And I felt like I was like jinxing the team because I wasn't doing my matra jeans or whatever. But to be able to go watch those games with such kind of freedom and enjoyment and watch this team pretty much dominate both of those sides in a way that I haven't seen happen at least in the last five years or so. That just kind of set me off on this little domino effect of like really believing that something was on. And I think up until that point, there was a lot of chit chat in the media about like what's going on with Liverpool here. I think we all talked about it in detail at the beginning of the season. You know, we didn't really see a title charge on the cards. And up until that point, you know, it felt very much like, is this a new manager bounce? Is this, you know, slots, um, systems not being analyzed by the opposition yet? Like, are we going to get found out? Is it similar to and Costa Koglu who had that really great run at the beginning of the Spurs kind of first season when he got there and then he just fell off? Like I was worried about all of those things up until that point. And then I saw the team, like I saw our team played those two teams with such character and such maturity. I just felt at ease. And then, you know, obviously we had the games that you're talking about with Brentford and everything. And then to see the other version of this team play against City, that just felt like kind of the final nail in the coffin for me. So that was sort of the start and finish of my little arc of, you know, is this going to be our year? Because I think watching that completely different performance in the away leg, watching the team sit back and defend and absorb pressure and be, again, so mature, but in a completely different way, that was for me, like almost a coming of age performance for not only the team, but also slot to see him be able to really execute a completely different game plan against, again, a very difficult opponent. So I don't know. I mean, there wasn't for me like a light bow moment. I think, you know, the Brentford game, had I been able to watch that last minute, probably would have been that, you know what, Chris, we're going to have words when we go to Liverpool. But yeah, I probably would have had that same release had I watched it. But for me, it was more just sort of like this gradual bell curve where it just kind of grew and grew and grew. And like my confidence in this team, it went from being a false dawn to like, wow, this is actually sustainable, which was surprising in that possible way. The interesting thing about the Madrid and city fixtures was a few days before the Madrid game, we won at Southampton 3-2. And, you know, we got over the line, but Southampton gave us a bit of a scare. Southampton was shy. We knew there was shy back then. So for us to go and be a Madrid site, and look, they're not the Madrid that you're seeing now, they were still, they were misses. I'm not belittling it, you're still beat Madrid, it's still a good win. With Madrid, Man City, Newcastle and Jerome. Space of that, that mini, mini section of games and to come out of those games with three wins and a draw. You know, and the draw given the manner of the draw is Newcastle. And what happened in that three, three, you know, it kind of felt really bitter as well. So, you know, it's not you're not coming away from that one thinking, oh, my God, you know, we threw that, you know, we know the colour made a mistake. But we also realised that, yeah, we were really good on the day. It could have been around then. Did I, did I first start, did I first said it, it might have been around then. The city game probably would have been the one that confirmed it to me. Because no matter what you do, no matter what you say. And I think even going into next season and beyond. Man City had a yardstick that you're going to be judged on. If you're going to win the league, if you finish above city, you're probably when the league, you know, and that it goes back to the same thing that used to be said under Manchester United with Ferguson. Odds were if you finished above them, you will win the league because they were going to get either first or second. You know, and I think the same is really true of Man City, irrespective of whatever Arsenal did, you know, you don't judge yourself on Arsenal's. You judge yourself on Man City. And the fact that we did the double over this year, you know, is a hell of an achievement in its own right, irrespective of the form that they're in at the minute. Yeah, it's fairly rare to do a double over city. No matter what state during the last ten years. They're still an absolute exceptional side. Yeah. Um, I suppose I'll come back to you, Ash, while you're still driving to me. Um, I think this is why we've heard a lot of excuses from Arsenal that the carry on I've seen from Arsenal feels very much like the poor fans in the 90s. You know, oh, it's not our fault. United are ahead of us. It's, you know, it's not it's because the rest do this. And we've had this injury. And, you know, if we'd signed this player, we'd have been fine. And it's like, Hey, what's up, guys? 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I think that's why there's been this little bit of bitterness because I don't think anyone's all up all doing a title challenge, but then I think too many pundits and opposition fans think cotton on the fact of the doors been left open. They were city not being the city. They were a little took it and a little around with it and I think it's I've just got to think since about early November, the gap between Liverpool and Arsenal has always been close to games. It's always been a seven point gap, six to seven point gap since November. And they've never been able to capitalise in that. I mean, the big one was probably like you're beating Brighton to one at home, which was a tough game. And you think, right, what we're going to do, you know, how we'll ask the recs for Arsenal is one the one the other way in Newcastle. And that's felt like every time we got a draw also very rarely capitalised, but we always managed to keep that keep that gap. And at least look back at hindsight, but I do think the February period is probably a bit on the raiser, I think. I know we didn't win every game, but you know, that February period, we got three wins, two draws and the gap went from seven points to 30. And everyone forgets this bit, you know, we were looking at like draw it at home to far as the gap was four points at the other and we're the game around, but it's four points, you know, you can, as I feel, get nervous. From that point, literally nine games later with 13 points clear. It's almost like the little time they're run for, right? We're going to put the hammer down now. Let's go, you know, and listen. You know, if you can do it, you look at that run as well. We haven't battled anybody, you know, and I think that's the impressive bit. Spurs aside in the knee cup, that's given. But the draw gets evident to two. Two won against Wolves had to grind that out. Two, two away to Villa is that was three days later. And yeah, then people started to get nervous. So look, we were all on the shows and you just knew that people were getting nervous when we kept saying you're taking points all the time. At the worst case scenario, every game you're going into, you're taking points. And that was key to everything. You know, two, no against City, two, no against Newcastle. You know, beating PSG away, one, they'll three, one Southampton. You know, we're scoring one, two goals, almost every game. Southampton, the exception where we scored three. But I'm looking back at all the results here. The last time we scored four goals in a league game was back in January against Italy, you know, and but we have been scoring on a regular basis, you know, and you go back again, there's one, there's two, two clean sheets in there against Newcastle and Man City, you know, above all the fixtures that are in there, those Villa City, Newcastle, the two, you don't expect the clean sheets in our Man City, Newcastle. So it's like we all had, you know, we had the idea of having this show about, you know, moments in games. But when you look back over the season, for me, to season so far, for me, it's the levels of consistency that we've shown throughout the season that nobody else has even been able to get close to advocating. That's what got us where we are. It hasn't really been, I mean, Darwin is two late goals against Brentford. But I'd say this season you could you could probably, I don't think you could even cut on one hand. There isn't that many games where you think you've come out of a league game where you've got three points, you're like, yeah, we absolutely robbed. We got, we robbed them there, you know, every point, I think that we've got this season we've earned and the fairness, I think some of the draws we should have got better results out of, you know, it's not OK. I don't think there's maybe many games this season that we've hung on for a point. You know, even the game that we lost against forests, Pete was saying there earlier on in the chat that that was probably one of the best things that could have happened to us this season because the momentum and how we were going at the line, you know, we were absolutely flying out the out the traps, you know, to the literature, to no Brentford, to no Man United, you know, and you had an amazing preseason as well. You got to remember that as well. We had a really good preseason and we looked really good in those first three games and then you got to slap around the chops against forests. And it was the one game where you didn't expect it to come. You know, we're about to check to start, you know, five days later, we were three weeks later, we were about to start Champions League campaign. You just hopped off Man United three now. Forest poor last season, you know, and the year before they were just nowhere. So they were and you're coming to Anfield and you're like, yeah, this is just a routine win. And I think that for slot to see that, that level of performance against the forest side and how quickly again can turn on you if you're not at it was probably the best thing that happened to early on the season. Pete made a great point and that was it probably was one of the moments of the season looking back at it because it's solidified in his or in his mind. How many times did he go back to it in press conferences? That's going to be a title that's going to be a title in his autobiography. Yeah. That's all it's going to get. And I think that was probably the best thing that could have happened at the time that it did because it was so early, you know, it didn't cost us massively. But it was a wake up call. Yeah, I mean, because we were asked, you know, the team and slot kicked on again. You know, we've got to a League Cup final, which we're looking forward to on Sunday. And, you know, we've got a league pretty much wrapped up, you know, in March. You know, but that probably gave him a bit of a a wake up call in terms of the level of the league in terms of this, what you can expect. But I think Neil Ackert's as mentioned before, I think it's right. Everyone talked about how difficult the Premier League is. Everyone talked about how difficult the December period is, you know, the hump after January is always tough. And all matter again, we know we know this. We know there's no break in England. I think until you've experienced your first one, then you go, Oh, right. You know, Pep Guardiola, the oldest first season at City, got the shock of his life of, you know, this is what English football is like. And then he, you know, he's an excellent manager, so I'm adapted to it very, very quickly. And, you know, slot seems sort of generally adapted to the demands of English football. Pretty, pretty well, you know, despite going on PSG again, that's probably, I'm hoping that's going to be like the forest situation, the forest area. It's a bit of a learning curve for him of right, maybe there are ways that I can take differently going into it, or there are certain players now that I know for definite I want to improve on next season. Yeah, I think, yeah, I think both of those things are true. I think it's definitely going to be a learning experience, you know, these these losses hurt. It's been a while since we've had a truly meaningful loss, you know, and if the forest result is anything to go by, I'd imagine this is going to be on his mind for a while. And I think we went into, you know, detail about maybe the ramifications of that throughout the team, and it had nothing to do with that game as a one off. I think, you know, whenever you lose, you always have a moment to reflect and kind of think, well, what could you do differently? I don't think that the the Twitter narrative of this team is rubbish. We have to get rid of everyone. I don't think that that is what's going on here. You know, I'm listening to you guys talk about the league as a whole. I mean, I'm just kind of sitting here thinking it's actually very interesting the way that slots approach this because, you know, it feels very much like a slow and steady wins the race kind of year for me, where I don't think I would describe this Liverpool team as absolutely blowing like the league out of the water. I don't think that our performances have been blowing things out of the water. I think it's just been incredibly stable and incredibly steady. And like I look, I looked back, I don't know, I was looking back at some of the kind of game week summaries and there was one where it was talking about Arsenal and it was right around game week 10 or 11 and they were talking about how Arsenal was basically they had a 45% win rate in the first 10 or 11 games. Their XG was less than one in the first 10 or 11 games. Like it was a pretty slow start for them. And I think that that sort of was you know, I think people are using that as an excuse. I think the way that slot started where he started the way he meant to finish. Like there was no slow start from him. He got the team working right from the off, even though it wasn't his team to start with and I think it's just been it hasn't been a roller coaster the way it's been with Klopp and it hasn't been like super high and super low and oh my God, February is a disaster and we have to make up all these points. It's felt very kind of like there's been an equilibrium that we've we haven't experienced in a while and I think it's sort of a reflection of slot himself where he feels like he's a very even keeled gentleman who kind of keeps things stable and safe and I do think that there's there's room to learn. I think, you know, we're seeing him learn on the job with maybe like the rotations of endos, for example, coming on late in games. There are definitely times like in the Everton game, for example, where Jada came on late and we were like, what the hell is that stuff about? Like, why isn't he bringing endo on? And I think you're seeing him learn on the job, but in a way that feels I don't know, it's not jarring. It makes it makes him look like an old like what is it like a just sort of like a veteran, I guess, it makes him look like a veteran. It makes him look like an old head and I don't know, that's just that's been really refreshing to me. I know it's not been the most exciting season in the world and I know a lot of people are going to make the argument that it's not a competitive season and I I understand that the highest echelons of, you know, maybe the top six clubs might not be performing in the way that we expect, but I think that's largely down to the fact that the middle of the pack has gotten so much better. And I think if you look at the teams that are in and around the spaces for Europe, teams that are competing for that top four, I have never seen such a competitive middle of the pack. I've never seen so much talent in the middle of the pack. There are so many teams that can take points off of top clubs now that wasn't the case in the past. A lot of times they just roll over for teams like city or even teams like us when we came and that's not happening. So things have been really interesting in that regard. I think if you take something out the equation because they're horrific, I think every other club has at least one, some of them have got more than one, two or three players, you look at and go and you've got to watch him. He'll, you know, like, they've got the lap and you know he's going to cause you your problems. Lester have got Vardy and you go, Oh, he's a pain to ask, but we don't need him. But every other club you go in through, who you would say, a mid table, like Forrest, no one saw Forrest doing what they've done this year, but you're now looking going, well, Hudson does a pain in the ass, Chris Woods on form. Gives White, you know, is all is horrible to play against and they've got two centre backs and a goalkeeper who don't like anything getting past them. You know, whereas probably two years ago you weren't saying that you were going there might be one, but you know, that's it. You are now looking at a lot of teams, but they've got three or four tasks. Plus, I don't remember this chat was city got 100 points and second place was 20 points behind them, you know. It doesn't matter, it's not us. The only time the league is boss. There's more than ones that are winning it. But I'd be honest, that year, the city got the 100 points. It was they were relentless and that was their drive to finish the season as strong as humanly possible because they know that it will put the fear of God into sight the next year. You know, because they know that they're going to be facing a side who are right and are going to be a nightmare if they get away. And I think that has to be our mentality. No, we're sat at the moment and 29 games played. 21 wins, seven draws, one loss, plus 42 goals and 70 points. You know, we've nine games to play. 27 points on the table and the target should be to get all 27 points. Get all 27 points finished on 97 points. And say to the league, this is what we've done. The benchmark. We're going to improve the squad. And it's up to you guys now to to catch us. And, you know, we'll see next season will take care of itself. But I really want us to do what city did now and attack the last third of this season and finish the season as strong as possible. Trying to get as many points on the board as possible. I don't mind seeing changes in the squad. I don't mind seeing players used off the bench that we haven't really seen that much of. But I'd like to see us finish the league as strong as possible. Actually, you made a great point about the rest. It's not our fault that we are far and away out in front. The rest of them, I mean, from Brentford on 38 points are nine points off Man City in fifth. You know, that's crazy at this time of the season. It's really rare. Especially the spending gap. And you think about where Brentford were at different periods of this season and even last season. There was a time where I was worried they were going to get relegated. Yeah. Oh, yeah. And you look at, I mean, we've wax lyrical about Bournemouth. I'm impressed we've been about their attacking football and how they've played. They're ninth. You know, it's like there's a chance to form a probably don't qualify for Europe. You know, it's I mean, it's the top five champions league one week in any direction, though, can see and that's what's crazy. I mean, it's not going to be a boring end to the season. Maybe from like the winners perspective, it'll be boring. But there's going to be so many like interchanges of places. There's going to be so many teams playing for something at the end of this at the end of this run. You know, and you know, it's a shame because I think that the bottom three or the bottom three, you know, they're just going to go back down. You know, that's not going to be that exciting. But if you look at that top four top, I mean, it's going to be top five, really, realistic, that's going to be really exciting. And there are going to be some teams in there that could realistically get into Europe maybe the first time in quite a long time. I mean, I don't bond with the ninth, but there are four to four points. But Chelsea who were four from 49. So it is literally it's going to be it's going to be one of those weekends where you could see one side win and you got bang their fourth and you're going to go. I'll tell you what, there's going to be a weekend almost to overtook us at one point. Yeah, I want to go and Chelsea going to the league that last weekend. That was fun. There's going to be a week or two. And I hope I really prayed it there together. Where a lot of these sites play each other. The sites that are from Arsenal down to form of where you're going to get two or three games in a weekend where they all play each other. And the team, the league will either separate or it will just come together like an accordion, you know, and it'll band everyone together. And then it'll be a case of meant it'll come down to mentality for the running to who gets where and I think the table never lies after 38 games and wherever you finish is where you deserve to finish. So it'll be I'm looking forward to seeing who does well. It is conceivable that Man City fall out of the Champions League places. It's very conceivable. Yeah, which was the first time in the about I think it's the qualified back and certainly they've never fell out. They've never fell out of it. No, they kind of look like I'm even just looking at the next couple of game week next year's and like this weekend's got quite this week has got format for spreadford. It's got city verse Brighton, which their names that you would never think. Oh, my God, that could be a top four challenge, but like they are. And credit to those teams, Brighton can go ahead of city. They could and I don't think it's like outside of the realms of possibility. You've got Chelsea playing Arsenal, which is going to be a great game. I mean, Chelsea went the three that Chelsea went the three points of Arsenal. And that's the concern for Arsenal is I think they're concerned. It's not catching lip, but it's almost like I don't get overtaken. You don't want that narrative to do. You don't want that narrative to go in. We finished third and you heard that before, you know, first third and two horse race, you know, which to have to top them against. Let's do whether it's a movie night or just midday, Skinny Pop is a salty snack that keeps on giving made with just three simple ingredients for an irresistibly delicious taste and a large serving size that lasts. Deliciously popped, perfectly salted Skinny Pop popular for a reason. Shop Skinny Pop now. Hi, this is Jevon, your blinds.com design consultant. Oh, wow, a real person. Yeah, I'm here to help with everything from selecting the perfect window treatments to. Well, I've got a complicated project. No problem. I can even help schedule a professional measuring install. We can also send you samples fast and free. Hmm, I just might have to do more. Whatever you need. So the first room we're looking at is for Shop Blinds.com now and save up to 45 percent site wide, blinds.com rules and restrictions may apply. Up and away. It's time to rewrite the vacation rules with Royal Caribbean. Your family can look forward to just about anything. Break the thrill barrier, roaring down the tallest waterslide in North America. Jump into breathtaking jungles and jaw-dropping codes. Buy both the charts on our private island. Perfect day, Coco K and end the day knowing things are just getting started. Because this isn't just any vacation. This is all the vacations. Come seek the Royal Caribbean. Chip's registry Bahamas. Yeah, you don't want that on your CV days. I feel like the people just set them up to fail. Like, I was going to say I feel bad. I don't feel bad because they're a lot of the fans have been absolutely awful this year. But the way that they have set that team up for failure. Like, it's interesting, again, when I was thinking about sort of the slow and steady winds, the racing for Liverpool, like the other thing that we've managed to do through, I don't know what means, is stay out of media, is stay completely out of the chat. Like, up until the recent city game, I didn't hear a single thing about Liverpool being potential title winners. It was always Arsenal's, you know, Arsenal are going to catch them. Who's going to catch this? Chelsea is going to catch Liverpool. Liverpool is going to fall off. It was never Liverpool are the ones to beat. It was never they're going to be champions. It was always watch what happens next. You know, these people are going to overtake them. And it was constantly building Arsenal up, constantly building them up. And it was always like the highlight reels or the, you know, the 30 minute post match analysis. It was always geared toward them. And yeah, they're a London club, they're going to get a lot more coverage. But I feel like that was just more pressure and more pressure building on them. And if we've seen anything about Arsenal, it's that they crumble under pressure and they just don't have the old heads in that team to deal with it. And you see them celebrating draws with Man United or taking pictures, like imaginary pictures when they have results and things. Those are not moments that you're winning the Champions League. That's a league result that you're, you know, maybe pulling level with a team that's in 13 or 13 or 14 place. Like, I don't know. I just think it's I just think it's a little bit ridiculous what's happened there. And again, discuss your kids saying don't rob content from that show. There's going to be an amazing elaborate explanation of all the different arsenal, subplots and excuses coming up in about 10 minutes. So I'm not going to rob it. I do think it's interesting. I think it's interesting the way that we've been able to somehow fly under the radar this entire time. There's been some excellent points made in the chat as well about Man City. The I would imagine the results of this case against them will probably be heard. After this weekend, I think it'll be heard over the international. It'll come out over the international break. Just a gut feeling. Feels colourful inches as well, isn't it? Yeah, but it just feels like it would have come out this, you know, when there's no football, no Premier League football, so no pundits, no managers getting press conferences. You know, that kind of stuff. So if that comes out and they get a hefty fine or a hefty points deduction, then all hell could break loose in the race to get back into the Champions League. You could see some sides getting into the Champions League that have never been in there before. You know, it's on for anyone and the race, the table is so condensed. Kind of like you used to see this in the championship a lot. Sides will put, you know, you'll have the championships over 46 games. But when it comes down to the last six games, you'd often get a side who put a run of six wins together at the back end of the season and get into the playoffs. And from there, they're flying, they're on form. And from there, they can get up, you know, you could see a real last gasp dash in the Premier League for sides to push in to the Champions League spots, especially that there is going to be five of them. So I can you imagine, can you imagine the scenario? Man City, as Kieran Maguire thinks the deduction could be between 60 and 100 points. For argument's sake, Man City get relegated, go to a club World Cup, win it. They're the best football club in the world playing in the second division. Imagine that amount of press that they would bring to the second division, though, and like, I don't know, I don't know what's going to happen. I just get the prize. I get the fine. Yeah, and maybe I get to feel whatever. I think I think whatever production they get, I don't think it'll satisfy what a lot of people want. It's never going to be enough. It'll never be enough. Never enough. It will be like some people want titles. It looks like it's going to be some more titles. So once we throw down to three divisions, because it is here, Kieran Maguire likes it. Well, they can't they can't kick about the league because it's up to the champ. It's up to EFL if they want to accept them. But I can't imagine the FL won't accept them because for them, they're going. Yeah, but if it's if it's just a city or a league two, which won't happen, it's a city or a league two. Just imagine every team of the going, we're going the Etihad, the math, the crowds that they'll get and to us that's the following they'll get from city fans to the money. You just being able to feel a stadium that big even within a wayside. Yeah, so I think it's a nonsense idea that city EFL wouldn't accept them. They would, but I just don't I'm sort of resigned. So I think whatever they get, I think we'll all go. We're all together, but really, is that like that's the best they could do? Yeah, but if they are found guilty of what was the accused of, we're all set. They're going, yeah, they found guess they've got that punishment. But I bet you see your idea, but that's worth it because I think that's the issue. Look at all the title. Look, we've still got all these titles, still got the European club. And you're not going to take them away from us all. And you can't be like wipe away what they were able to build with the proceeds that they dig up. But look, that's that's for another day. Yeah, anyway, I think that could be a show in and of itself. You know, start hearing all of these little things come through. We're definitely about it. Real talks that we could see Man City rex of the field. I think Rex and would probably love that. I could see right. And it was just like looking at that with the dollar signs in his eyes. Yeah. So while I do the admin, you guys have a think of I'm going to eliminate Moab Salah from it. OK, pick me. Two star players and one you expected more from. So I'll give you a couple of minutes. So while I do the admin, so don't forget our charts, partners, which is fans supporting the food banks in Liverpool and the Lighthouse Cafe in Dublin, which helps feed the homeless. It aims to get to 10,000 euro, 5,000 for each charity. Link is in the description below. So please give what you can. If you can't give, please share it round and friend of the show Pete Smith. I promise you, he's not paying us for this and it's a busy, busy boy. So he is doing shows in Dublin. He's also doing one in Limerick and he's doing. But who's he playing again? I actually know it's by now. That's it. It came off in that film. We're seeing a Jeremy. That's what I mean. I've got the song and I couldn't think of the. Don't sing it because we'll get to him on a first. Well, they're all with my voice. You wouldn't even notice it was a nobody be able to recognize us. Yeah. So tell us the singer. It'll be a great show. All the April dates are sold out, but he is back in June. And then just to show people more, he's got a film coming out, which is Red Alert Spain. Cold Red Spain. Cold Red Spain, sorry. I've seen the I've seen the trailer boss in it, Kevin. Yeah, trailer's wicked. Looks like it would be good to see. Yeah. So again, the thing to keep an eye out for. So hopefully we'll get Pete back at the show at some point because, you know, all this promo would do for us. You're going to have like posters and stuff behind him with like signed memorabilia. It's going to be great. Yeah, that could be it. You could do that and even with Pete. Yeah. Yeah. He's just just just never fit his head through a door with the way. Yeah, but he's been interviewed by Phil. That'd be interesting, actually. So, I'll be honest, that's what's up. I think they're together. I think I'd pay to watch that because that's them two are great, great fun together. Cool. Right. Kev, because I can see you struggling, give us one of your star players. I'll give you two of them now. He can't take a lot. Graven Brett is the easy one because look, he's he's changed position, he's learned a brand new position and he's been phenomenal. There's there's just no getting away from it. He's been really, really excellent. I think he's feeling a bit now towards the back into the season, but he'll be so much the better for this experience this season. Getting that first league title under your belt as well as a player. This young is going to be the making of him. The other one, I feel like someone needs to check his birth certificate. I know. The other one, I think, absolutely, you know, it's not fair here. Do you guys think he's young player of the year? It should be. Because he qualifies. He should be, but it's. There'll be a push for coal bar. There'll be a push for coal bar, yeah. I don't agree, but I think it. No, that's what will happen. I would say I'd have to give it to Colin Gackbo. Good show because his level of now that he's back in his favorite position, we saw what he was capable of doing for Netherlands in that position. I think the level of consistency that he's shown. This season is shown that's where he's best. His best and he can do a job for you elsewhere, for sure. But he's such a threat on that left wing cutting in. And he's keeping Louis Diaz. Unmarish, really. So when he's fit, Cody starts and it's unmarish. It's not because his daughter, the manager, really likes him. He's there on Maris. So he's playing like the code he got born. So in all of that, I think the best call that we've given. I still think he was fully fit. He might have been the difference for us going through his PhD. I think the way he could cut inside and that shot from the distance he has, which is brilliant, I think would have helped. Plus, he's the best way for Sala to find for that back post chip that Sal likes to do for him to head on to it. Actually, the pressure not all be on Sala for goals scoring. And I think I think Gackbo is really like come to his own in that front. OK, I'll just roll through mine. I wrote bonkers in the chat. He says McAllister and Kanate. I think the way that we've seen Kanate step up this year is something that I was not expecting. I didn't think he could play this many games consecutively. I didn't see and we all knew he was a really, really good defender and he would show it in fits and spurts, but for him to be consistent. And I think a lot of that also goes down to Virgil. We can't sell Virgil short in terms of what he's done in stepping up and, you know, really elevating his game. And then McAllister for me has just sort of been the engine at the end, like the, it's not the engine, but sort of like the mechanical mastermind behind things where it's like he keeps everything ticking over and he's had to switch positions as well, Klopp had him playing in a deeper role. And the way that he's been able to seamlessly move forward, I think slots, biggest strength is being able to identify where players are best suited. And he doesn't try to like wrench them in like a, you know, a square peg and a round hole. He tries to put them where they're best suited. So for me, I think that he's really shown. I think you've seen his quality. You know, and I guess it could do better. I think it's down to both of the strikers. You know, I think I was expecting I was expecting more from Jada. I thought that he was going to have a consistent run of form. I thought Nunez would at least pick up a couple more important goals. But again, I'm splitting hairs right now. I'm just so proud of this team for getting where they are and for for surprising us all, except for Matt, because Matt is just the eternal optimist. And if you want to get a little bit more of Matt, I encourage you to check out the show that's going to start in about seven minutes, which is why we're sort of rushing off because he's got this amazing kind of advent calendar style thing planned. I don't even know what it is. He's keeping it a surprise. So we're all, yeah, he will tell us really. So no, you know, that's going to be on that's going to be a member show on our patron. So get up to pay, get up to patron patron and sign up. You get a week free so you can see what we do. And then hopefully stay on, but, you know, like, subscribe, good stuff rest of the week. We action Kevin back. I think we're going to have doing a preview show for the League Cup final. And then after the League Cup final, us three plus things that will be doing a post reaction. We're hopefully we're talking about the full listing. Another cup, which would be quite nice. Guys, anything you want to add before we go? No, good. We're looking forward to Sunday now to membership for tonight. Everything's going to be shown on Patreon in the morning. So you're going to get video and you're going to get audio in the morning. So, you know, if you don't catch it tonight because your membership ran out, it will be their first thing in the morning. There you go. Oh, good. And speaking of YouTube, after you've watched Matt's show, check out the women's show. Recorded that came up, came up today. Myself, Neil Atkinson from the Alpha wrap and Emma Sanderson BBC taught all things little women's football club, including every from the FA Cup to the Angelina and a few of her good bits. As you know, with Neil and Emma, there's always good contact with them, too. They've got lots of interest and opinions. So until then, take care, speak very soon. [inaudible] This podcast is part of the Sports Social Podcast Network. [inaudible]
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Chris, Ashley and Kev look back at the season so far and the big moments that have left Liverpool on the brink of the title....
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