0:12

Hello welcome back to essential questions from

0:14

Sky Schools where we discuss the major

0:17

talking points from the Premier League and

0:19

beyond coming up on today's show is

0:21

on it the right fit to slots

0:23

in Liverpool. it's gonna be a few

0:25

them coming up. as the Reds turn

0:28

their attentions to the current Feyenoord boss

0:30

to replace your gun club we find

0:32

out about the Dutch manager he wants

0:34

turn down the top and job as

0:36

a player. he also the past named

0:38

after him possibly looking were Liverpool go

0:41

this season after defeat to. Abbott's. An

0:43

open ended their title hopes. I'm

0:45

football journalists from Walker. Alongside me,

0:47

his fellow Sky Sports writer and

0:50

football expert Adam bag hire them.

0:53

Or wrong. Or. You've been

0:55

getting up close and personal in a sense with

0:57

the with on a Slope, specifically his background of

1:00

the last few days of money. Yeah.

1:02

Just on nonnarrative as the expert but I've spoken

1:05

to a lot of last forty eight hours and

1:07

the I just trying to. Get

1:09

a suite of immersed myself in the world of on

1:11

the slot so hopefully I get some of that cross.

1:14

Yeah. And sounds like an interesting Weldon. And

1:16

looking back to last night to the present of

1:18

Liverpool before we we want to the future. I

1:21

mean. Everything's

1:23

win over Liverpool I think.

1:26

Well. It's potentially the death knell in the.

1:28

In the Premier League title hopes from From Apple if

1:30

he but did, Did you see that coming? Even with

1:33

a rejuvenated evident over the last couple of weeks. Knows

1:36

pool wasn't the are other these going to

1:38

happen Now when you're at a time rice

1:40

with to where the team's you can't be

1:42

losing to police on Everton the space of

1:44

ten days and to look at Liverpool fans.

1:46

Had high hopes for the fairy tales and

1:48

all A birds are. Familiar.

1:51

Failings of cost them a little. I only just

1:53

some of those mrs last night from all three

1:55

the forwards. that's been the story of this last

1:57

month. The to. Alongside our.

2:00

Delighted to welcome back to the parts,

2:02

Sky Sports News senior reporter Melissa Ready

2:04

I'm Melissa, it's a another quite weak

2:06

the. There's

2:08

no such thing. Know keep the case

2:11

I think one of the first thing

2:13

is I told and I started working

2:15

in football lays the world of the

2:18

for Never sleeps and I have certainly

2:20

definitely on that out. Yeah.

2:23

And I mean as one door closes

2:25

with only slot see me coming in

2:27

the Liverpool. The. Fire Brady's even

2:29

more us both up the road as to

2:31

Old Trafford, so that's for another day I

2:33

suppose. But but back with them, Liverpool.

2:36

For the moment. What? Do we

2:38

know festival where we are with honest at the

2:40

moment as we record this on says they also

2:42

do so It could be very different by the

2:44

time even goes out but. As. Of now,

2:46

what's the situation? Yet,

2:49

talks are continuing between Fine

2:51

Arts and Liverpool. Oh, that

2:53

compensation It's We know that

2:55

and of the fools starting

2:57

point for their negotiation yesterday

2:59

was seven Point Seven, Five

3:01

million pounds. Think the Dutch

3:03

Club want to try and

3:05

put that as close to

3:07

the ten million pound marked

3:09

as they possibly can because.

3:12

They. Would like to keep him. But.

3:15

They also appreciate that they stand

3:17

in the way of such a

3:19

big opportunity. so ultimately for them

3:21

it's just trying to get the

3:23

best possible deal and some sort

3:25

of the still looking. Strong.

3:28

And they did not just been

3:30

bullied by a Premier league side.

3:32

And that it's very very evident

3:35

that Slot lumped the job. I

3:37

mean for the club's to so

3:39

quickie even be. you know, talking

3:41

about a financial agreement signifies that.

3:43

And also you know you're saying.

3:46

It's Thursday afternoon. The As

3:48

sources in Holland keep saying

3:50

that this could move rapidly

3:52

just because it's determination to

3:54

take the job. Now.

3:58

There's. Been. The things that

4:00

a bundle of I think earlier this week when in

4:02

a library but I'm or it might be in talks

4:04

with West Ham. There were few people

4:06

coming out saying arrival wireless posing as a.

4:09

In. Theory have the interest of the they never said

4:11

it in Xabi Alonso. Then we moved on to I'm

4:13

Room and now is into gotta slot but behind the

4:16

scenes as it's been a lot more. Well

4:19

thought out and well planned. and in a.

4:21

It's me very quickly from an outside for the. Yes,

4:24

the biggest thing for me and when I

4:26

or. The story

4:28

on Sky Sports is. He

4:31

when you do this job

4:33

long enough and you are

4:35

seeking out information, you tend

4:37

to notice the language changes

4:39

and you get really good

4:41

at reading between the lines.

4:44

Now. From the Moment

4:46

of clubs announcements. Liverpool.

4:48

When giving anything away on who

4:50

they were looking at, we knew

4:53

that data would inform their choices.

4:55

We knew that they go through

4:57

a very thera process with kind

4:59

of new in terms of playing

5:01

style and such what they'd be

5:03

going off debt and you saw

5:05

Flames didn't feature on any of

5:08

the lists that. The.

5:10

Media or the fan base are talking

5:12

about because it's a little that often

5:14

have an outside look. They are difficile

5:17

and so. When

5:19

we kept mentioning Savvy Alonzo Liverpool

5:21

never said anything about him, but

5:23

he was the obvious outstanding choice.

5:26

I don't think in terms of

5:28

levels, profile essay like book, or

5:30

the playing style or anything like

5:32

that, but just looking at a

5:35

manager because he is going to

5:37

be the. right?

5:41

Out the I you he just

5:43

sort of time six to him

5:45

rather than make him fit you.

5:48

Then with Amran they said he

5:50

was one of. The. People that

5:53

was under consideration but at no points

5:55

every time and there was any sort

5:57

of story a suggestion that he was.

6:00

They're leading candidate the Cowboys which push

6:02

back and said no. He's. Not

6:05

There is no perfect choice

6:07

at this moment. Yes,

6:10

Lips learn. The.

6:12

Language was completely different. Yes he is

6:14

a very very strong candidate but there

6:16

are other clubs looking at him and

6:18

fire Norte would like to keep him

6:21

so. Departure

6:23

their lesson, that's and.

6:26

If he. Isn't in

6:28

their thinking Laurie, He isn't the

6:30

top choice that external forces. Mean

6:33

that Liverpool? don't. Write

6:35

that it really wants him, but the

6:37

external forces could. Take that happens.

6:41

And so I think for then he

6:43

was. Always.

6:46

Very high up in

6:48

their thinking. Yet. They

6:50

didn't want to say anything. Until they knew.

6:53

That. He'd want to come and that

6:55

they could negotiate with final. Yamaha

6:58

interested to know what must have exactly

7:00

the type of research for Blue Google

7:02

don't because of it as a loss

7:05

in large his between slot tsunami room

7:07

subs messy the. Been. On the

7:09

survey that the playing styles are you looking the

7:11

bump outside. The. Main five leagues

7:13

really good. Jobs are more brutal.

7:16

Give. A big of choosing the

7:18

our country when the final and

7:20

alongside will draft was good communicators.

7:23

So this lotus allowances. but then

7:25

maybe you think of Army Room.

7:27

He plays a different shape and

7:29

may be more interested in radio

7:31

Stall than got the hundreds of

7:34

the ones that she can reconcile

7:36

liking the underdog football nothing causes

7:38

on the sinking so maybe. When.

7:40

He's sick of the pressing Gamecocks style.

7:43

Maybe it's just easier to see that

7:45

transition interview be one a boot suppose,

7:47

mind the bloodbath. Maybe the going inside

7:49

a food source? Just curious whether that's

7:51

something like. it's less about racism is

7:54

more about. Looking. To the

7:56

stylistic sitter. Yes, Because

7:58

like you say there. Coaching

8:00

Cheney and their similarity boys

8:03

is very, very close and

8:05

there's a lot of them.

8:07

But the one major distinction.

8:10

Is. Their. Football approach

8:12

and philosophy and would flow mode

8:15

playing Upheaval for Liverpool. You look

8:17

at the squad either capital, nations,

8:19

he can fuse and you also

8:22

look at things like. How

8:24

often do need when the ball

8:26

in the phone at said they're

8:29

actually top in Europe's A and

8:31

mean paid leave for that and

8:33

the team and second is Liverpool

8:36

you look up their high time.

8:38

oh there's an their pressing numbers

8:40

and fit pretty much nearly America

8:43

for Liverpool and so. He

8:45

are looking at it me thinking this. Is

8:48

very easy. To

8:50

try and. Teleports. You

8:53

know, and transport. whereas I think

8:55

that would have been a lot

8:57

of work, For. The pay

8:59

is to adjust to hammer and

9:02

and potentially a lot of different

9:04

players needed to be recruited as

9:06

well to be comfortable in his

9:08

style or know when you think

9:10

about how different never pull up

9:12

points you look and feel even

9:15

us have gotten so used to

9:17

club for Liverpool. I.

9:19

Think the last thing they wanted. For.

9:21

The players is to have. Also

9:25

this you know huge

9:27

difference in in pain

9:29

approach and thought process

9:31

and getting also there

9:33

oughta my a automation

9:35

so. It. Makes sense.

9:39

Keep that the playing style

9:41

quite similar because remember Liverpool

9:43

use that same vision. All

9:45

through their age groups and. The.

9:48

Recruitment profile. that they

9:50

look for. Such. that

9:53

first team football but also all through

9:55

the age groups the players of the

9:57

looking for follows that same stylistic pattern

10:00

So it's a smart decision

10:03

to make, especially when we look at

10:06

the landscape of football and the fact

10:08

that, you know, when we

10:10

look at the Premier League's profit and

10:12

sustainability rules having real teeth now, clubs

10:15

wanting to introduce a hard

10:17

salary cap and anchoring,

10:21

that work on the training pitch and how

10:23

you can put that on

10:25

a match day and the

10:27

bringing through of young talent, collective

10:30

and individual improvement, that's all going

10:32

to be massive and he's shown

10:34

the track record of doing that.

10:37

Yeah, my feeling is that there

10:39

is just a hedge of the bets a little bit.

10:41

There is some doubt here because he isn't Javi Alonso,

10:43

he's not coming from the Bundesliga, he's coming from a

10:45

left league and that is a risk, it's

10:47

a big step up and I think there's

10:49

this idea that everyone wants something clean, they

10:51

want a coach who's never had any failure

10:53

on the CV and that's lending people towards

10:56

Holland and Portugal. So, I mean, do you

10:58

think it's going to work, Melissa? Is this

11:00

going to be a success? You

11:02

know, you use the word risk and I

11:04

think undoubtedly it is one and

11:07

when I was looking at the landscape

11:09

this summer of managers

11:11

and thinking about who teams could

11:13

potentially employ, like I

11:15

said, Javi Alonso, just because of what

11:18

he's already achieved, like

11:20

a level above everyone else, but

11:22

that is banking on his future.

11:24

Even with him, there's a great

11:26

sense of risk because you don't know if

11:28

he can replicate what he's doing

11:31

at Lebakluson somewhere else. And

11:33

then, it's definitely

11:37

such a big jump, it's a

11:39

scary one as well from

11:42

the outside when you're witnessing it because like

11:44

we've spoken about, you know, the history

11:47

of players and managers

11:49

coming from Holland to

11:52

the Premier League. And

11:55

I think the only sort of comfort and

11:58

security that that Liverpool fans

12:01

will take is that they

12:04

hardly get a big decision wrong when

12:07

it comes to recruitment, whether that's

12:09

recruitment of managers or players. And

12:13

Klopp was a master stroke, right?

12:15

But at the time, people

12:17

were trying to push Liverpool closer to Carlo

12:20

Ancelotti, because Klopp was

12:22

seen as a bit of a wildcard and

12:24

a little bit too out there

12:26

and like gregarious Carlo

12:30

was seen as more respectable

12:32

and measured and

12:34

had a greater esteemed CV.

12:36

So I think

12:39

the elements of risk and of

12:41

being concerned, and you

12:43

never know, even when you think something is a banker, it

12:48

might not be. But I

12:50

think just in terms of the things

12:52

that they were looking for the factors, he

12:56

does pick them and the major, major,

12:58

major one of there

13:00

not being any upheaval to the

13:02

playing style and to what's already

13:05

been rolled in terms of one-time-one

13:07

vision, this is our identity

13:10

on the pitch. That

13:12

means I think they feel this continuity.

13:15

I think we have a school of

13:18

structure, world-class people. It's

13:20

on the pitch where they need the continuity and

13:22

I think they feel like they've got their

13:24

man for that. What

13:26

do you think in terms of Liverpool fans looking

13:28

at this? Because, you know, when

13:31

Jurgen Klopp came in, he was one of the biggest

13:33

names in Europe, it was felt a

13:35

get even for a sub club of that size. This

13:37

is slightly different, but then it almost feels like we

13:39

do live in a little bit of a different era,

13:41

don't we? The top top level managers

13:45

are either not available or

13:47

there's not so many. But

13:51

having had those years of, like

13:53

you say, careful,

13:56

considered recruitment

13:58

on the playing staff. Now

14:00

with Michael Edwards back and leading the charge on the

14:03

recruitment of what looks like being slot Do you think that

14:05

Liverpool fans will you know? generally

14:09

Trust the club on this first straight from the off It

14:13

depends there's a lot

14:15

of different categories. I think if you look

14:17

at the dialogue on Twitter Flot

14:21

is a very underwhelming appointment There's

14:25

annoyances anger. They think it's a

14:27

cheap option but if

14:29

you listen to San

14:32

media and their content and

14:34

people who go regularly

14:36

to the games They're

14:39

prepared to trust Michael

14:41

Edwards and the hierarchy because they

14:43

really really get big

14:45

decisions wrong but

14:47

I think ultimately it's so difficult

14:50

young club is Larger

14:53

than life and what he's

14:55

delivered to that football club not just

14:57

in terms of the trophies but

14:59

the experiences and the emotional

15:02

journey everybody's been on together.

15:04

It's really hard to

15:06

imagine Life without

15:08

him football without him for the Liverpool

15:10

fan base And I

15:12

think the jabby Alonso

15:14

idea it was so Romantic

15:17

and something that you could so easily

15:20

buy into that it

15:22

seemed the only palatable Solution

15:26

to losing Yergin, but you've got shabby

15:28

Alonso the most exciting

15:30

outstanding young managerial talent in the

15:32

world who already has an affinity

15:34

to the And

15:37

then from there I think

15:40

the fan base then re-calibrated and got

15:42

attached to our Maroon again who's

15:44

probably an a more

15:47

exotic choice than slot,

15:49

but I think the fact that there's

15:53

been all

15:55

these emotional pulls in different direction

15:57

for the fan base it's quite

15:59

a Hi You both are a

16:02

more logical. Small. Message

16:05

kind of choice rather than as

16:07

sexy exciting one. Mouth

16:10

talking on Sky Sports on Wednesday evening former

16:12

Liverpool Defend the Jamie Carragher gave his reaction

16:14

to on a slot Big League with me

16:16

from feel kind of a similar vibe hear

16:18

his her what he had to say. Nothing.

16:21

For Feyenoord to Liverpool is a

16:23

huge drop. It is, and I

16:25

think it shows up this moment that there's probably. A

16:29

days of real. Soft. Manages. I'll

16:31

say it when you look will have a

16:33

provable force when his be probably Samuel on

16:35

so that was on his face full season

16:37

As a manager there was talk of our

16:40

in from a sport Lisbon have any he

16:42

says he nine and now on Onslaught looks

16:44

like he's is is the favorite right now.

16:46

So yes. I.

16:49

Don't think it's. Like wrath

16:52

of a nice as cominit Ogaden cloth. Comedy.

16:54

Him and wrath of beneath his comment on

16:56

the bus of to La Liga titles anyway

16:58

for cook or getting clock Roman bath a

17:00

comedy and on the in have been adequately

17:03

titles in the with considerable gets with Champions

17:05

League final A Liverpool were actually in a

17:07

different space than that was enough to seen

17:09

sitting. There are many says I was part

17:11

of way we would seem kind of qualify

17:13

for the thoughtful same he hadn't caught when

17:15

he came in for Liverpool has said that

17:17

in a in the vicinity and other acts

17:19

the fancy themselves the challenge to the premier

17:21

league every season on the next season something

17:23

they can expect. To go to the quarterfinals

17:26

at least so you know I think

17:28

it's a huge jump Both is opposite

17:30

a great coach but a great track

17:32

record and able to clubs that is

17:34

Hansel five days as out my i'm

17:36

fine or both. Yeah the say. Okay,

17:38

picking up from that. As as

17:41

Kerrigan said in a manager of

17:43

Feyenoord with with a great history,

17:45

that's one thing Liverpool. A. Whole

17:47

different kettle of fish. Not. A million

17:49

miles away from what we've seen with

17:51

a certain I X manager and his

17:53

spell at Manchester United. Adam. I

17:56

mean similar sees it as. on

17:59

islam stats bald but

18:01

there's a lot of difference as well

18:03

isn't there between himself and Eric

18:07

Tenharg from from what from the people

18:09

you've been speaking to this week as well. Yes

18:12

so the last time I did this kind

18:14

of piece of the Dutch Magic was two years

18:16

ago speaking to everyone who knew Eric Tenharg

18:18

I could find trying to convince myself that he's

18:21

going to turn united around so I think

18:23

there are similarities beyond the lack

18:25

of hair but I think there are key differences too

18:27

that lend a lot of people I

18:30

spoke to towards being more optimistic because I mean

18:33

there is an issue with success in the

18:35

Netherlands translating to England there's no doubt about

18:37

that it's been a cliche with players for

18:40

years and for every sort of Lewis whereas there's a

18:42

Kessman or whoever and who struggled here

18:45

but the last four Dutch title winning

18:47

coaches who came to work in England

18:50

are Steve McLaren, Frank Deboer, Philip

18:52

Kocku and Eric Tenharg and it's

18:55

been pretty miserable really but having

18:58

made this point to people they tell me that

19:00

Arna Slott's communication skills are a completely different level

19:02

to all those guys and particularly

19:04

Tenharg and you

19:07

know they told me on property three different people

19:09

that this guy's a master of the media sort

19:11

of the king of the press room he convinces

19:13

players to come along the journey with him and

19:16

convinced his supporters and journalists to come along with him

19:18

too and I'm sure there's people listening

19:20

to the podcast who will tell you that

19:22

it's all about tactics and clearly that's a

19:24

big part of it right and then we've

19:26

understood that with the transition from from Kock's

19:28

style and we can talk about

19:30

that but the pressing game and all that but

19:32

I think Yergen Kock was a great communicator as

19:35

well and great ability to set the narrative and

19:37

make people believe and I think that's I

19:39

think Liverpool are probably conscious that's a really

19:41

difficult act to follow and they need someone who can

19:43

at least try to do that I think that's

19:45

something that counts quite strongly in

19:48

Slott's favour because he does have that

19:50

reputation he is someone who can convince

19:52

people. I think that

19:54

that's been a bit of Farrington Hugg's downfall as people

19:56

have talked about but it's almost

19:59

I feel like it's a was slightly more important

20:01

at Liverpool, that narrative around the club,

20:04

you know, you'll never work alone. It's,

20:06

I can't think of a club in England with more of a sort of story

20:09

to the way that they exist,

20:11

if that makes sense. No

20:14

club is probably enamored with

20:16

their managers as Liverpool,

20:19

Sainz are with theirs, like

20:21

all through history. And I

20:23

think you really need a connector,

20:26

someone who is

20:29

able to regenerate or like

20:31

force a bond with supporters,

20:36

with people in the city, not

20:39

just, you know, ways of

20:41

saying football and clubbing breaks a

20:43

stand on major issues and

20:46

wants to improve the feeling

20:48

in the entire city, not just

20:50

around the actual club. And

20:53

I think there's definitely like

20:55

Adam says, echoes are doing

20:57

that. And one of

21:00

the things I was told, and one

21:02

of the words was energised,

21:05

he energised, fine

21:07

or he actually made them unrecognisable and he

21:09

made the fans fall in love with the

21:11

team again. So I think

21:14

that's obviously quite important. And it's

21:17

interesting as we're going through this

21:19

podcast, I'm thinking about when

21:21

club made these announcements

21:23

and we listed all the things Liverpool

21:26

would be looking for in

21:28

a successor. And we're slowly like

21:31

we're going through slot and we're

21:33

taking every one off. And

21:35

I think what

21:37

people also forget with Klopp

21:41

was that he always outperformed

21:44

his resources and

21:46

the expectations. And,

21:49

you know, you were talking one

21:51

about Klopp having a different

21:53

profile to slot when

21:55

he came in at Liverpool. And

21:58

That is definitely a part of it. Hard because

22:01

everybody watch cops Dortmund

22:03

specifically and players were

22:05

excited. To play

22:07

for him in a team like that because

22:10

they have seen what dortmund it in the

22:12

Champions league that you don't have that would

22:14

slot but. I think what

22:16

we have this. If. You

22:18

scrub out that Dortmund stuff the

22:20

same sort of career trajectory where

22:22

you go to a club and

22:24

you make it greater than one

22:27

hit. It currently is a what

22:29

it has been for a few

22:31

years and you do that would

22:33

very limited budget just using your

22:35

tools. And said

22:37

yesterday shown that this you

22:39

can feel ready when you

22:41

lox and the clips. no

22:43

justice the team play but

22:45

of how he interacts with

22:47

his players. From the fans that

22:49

there is a real charisma there and

22:51

a death anything that's gonna be important.

22:55

Looking looking forward now how quickly decent Liverpool

22:57

would like to get this rock salt because

22:59

it's as we recorded programs in three months

23:02

tomorrow that he hadn't caught first announced that

23:04

he was gonna leave Liverpool and you'd imagine

23:06

the way that. Things. Work

23:08

Anfield. a sense of signings and so I'm. In

23:12

a that that operate somewhat outside of the

23:14

manages remit and he would sign xbox I'm

23:16

how desperate will have a puppy to actually

23:18

get the set in stone of exactly bother

23:21

them in with to the almost a month

23:23

left of the season so are they still

23:25

fairly calm about it. They'll.

23:27

Always be com I think they. Are

23:30

Sunday. That diligent still

23:33

point that they know. Fine

23:35

or of other things in other shapes have

23:37

the right price. Slots we want

23:39

to. Play

23:41

Style This claim to be any

23:44

upheaval. Also like I said that

23:46

profile a player that they recruit for

23:48

the summer but wouldn't be any upheaval

23:50

in that either act was it would

23:52

be the same attributes they're looking for.

23:55

An. You, you say?

23:59

The friend. With made

24:01

any demands. Little known

24:03

since November. So. Local

24:05

have already been going from. That

24:08

point, even before any of us

24:10

had any inkling that that show

24:12

was going to come. They.

24:15

Will have been fairly clear it

24:17

in their minds off which direction

24:19

they were gonna go in and

24:21

Aca said them the. Most.

24:23

Interesting thing about this

24:25

is that Liverpool when

24:28

noncommittal. And. All.

24:31

The other names the. Only one

24:33

hundred. And mustn't. Strong.

24:35

Candidate. For

24:38

the Great barrier. Has

24:40

been since said in a the in i

24:42

think it they it had been in the

24:45

said he wanted a pin to Liverpool. a

24:47

thing that happens because. You could I

24:49

explained he's the one. Know.

24:51

Pop would turn down he and his. Extraordinary

24:54

What is already achieved in

24:56

such a short time frame.

24:59

But I think the own him. Flipped

25:02

his. Fancy. Candidates.

25:06

Were. Whoop! Wait with bated breath to see what

25:08

happens with a thumb hurts pockets. to my

25:10

my more than us I'm are you listening

25:12

to Essential for book questions when we come

25:14

back. We'll. Be looking at Liverpool the

25:16

media v just before the new manager and

25:18

if the title race is all but over.

25:34

Will come back to the essential for

25:36

to pull cars with me Rumble for

25:38

him a complete of Adam by i'm

25:40

afraid we've lost skies Poses Melissa ready

25:42

as he said. Never a quiet week

25:44

and sky schools and on the pitch

25:46

as well as ten or sanctions. Back

25:48

to last night for the moment and

25:50

the Mercy side Darby know a great

25:52

result for Liverpool beaten to know activism

25:55

part that's here from a very angry

25:57

lupul captain Virgil Van Dyke. After that

25:59

the speaking to. I suppose. Listen,

26:01

very disappointed in so many ways

26:03

and I think everyone has to

26:05

look in the mirror and look

26:07

at their own performance if they

26:09

really give everything and do

26:12

they really want to win the league and obviously we're

26:14

fighting and we still have

26:16

games after the night but we

26:18

play like we did overall in

26:21

the game today and not

26:23

winning challenges and giving the

26:26

ref to an opportunity to give a free kick

26:28

like he did many times then we

26:31

have no chance to win

26:33

the title and like I

26:36

said it's a tough one and obviously

26:38

we have to do much better against

26:41

the side that's playing against relegation and

26:45

now it's time to focus on a

26:47

12-30 kick off again. Well, no

26:50

punches pulled from the Liverpool captain

26:53

there Adam. I

26:56

mean the frustration you can feel it and you

26:58

can understand it as well can't you after a

27:00

really difficult couple of weeks for Liverpool? Yeah

27:03

I think there's two ideas at play simultaneously

27:05

with Liverpool at the moment. The one is

27:08

that they've overachieved this season because a title

27:10

push was not necessarily expected it was

27:12

seen as a rebuild season if

27:15

you go back to the start a

27:17

new team emerging and it only really started being

27:19

seen as an ending when Klopp

27:21

announced his exit didn't it and that sort of reframed

27:23

it as everything's got to happen now. But

27:26

the other thing you think about with Liverpool

27:28

this season is you look at the underlying

27:30

numbers and they've been outscored by Arsenal and

27:32

Man City but they've actually created far more

27:34

chances the expected goals telling you they should

27:36

have nine more goals than both of those

27:38

teams and I think you

27:40

get a real feel for what a wasted

27:42

opportunity literally it's been when you

27:45

watch games like Goodison Park

27:47

because Mohamed Salah has gone cold second

27:49

half of the season, Luz

27:52

Diaz doesn't score enough goals, Diogo Jota are

27:54

injured and I don't know

27:56

Ron what's left to say about Darwin Nunez. It

28:00

it be. It's

28:03

the quest. Is this your arms were questioned? The universe

28:05

in the is he gonna come good because he had

28:07

that bright spark at the start of the season when

28:09

he came off the bench against Newcastle. Score to include

28:11

about last minute winner. And then.

28:14

He gets a things like last night and. Is.

28:17

It just gonna be perpetually this level of

28:19

frustration until he leaves. My

28:22

day I mean he's a good age

28:25

he's not young old of youngest is

28:27

the should be steak. Is really

28:29

up and sellers. The more interesting question is

28:31

minutes. I'm thinking about slots in the future

28:33

where they go with the I mean maybe

28:36

there's another midfielder with sorrow and there was

28:38

a short some speaks with opposition to can

28:40

see other side's change. The harrys to say.

28:43

And rebuild quite impressive like. I

28:45

said they need more. From. The

28:47

foods and. Solar.

28:50

Almond if you remove. The politics of it was solid

28:52

given the status of the club. Given.

28:54

The Saudi option there in the background or

28:56

the temptation for Liverpool was to. Sell.

29:00

Even if he was a big of espouses good forty goals.

29:02

I think that the on the table. But.

29:04

Just Eumetsat school perspective on Excel is quite

29:06

interesting because he's not the. The

29:08

pressing force that he was when he arrived.

29:11

And. The coffers in making compromises on

29:13

that front. Because you are, these two

29:15

are picky. same purely on council pressing.

29:18

As. Easy hobby I live in that

29:21

same most weeks, but sellers abilities.

29:23

They demand compromise and that must

29:25

make sudden shifts in the team

29:27

inevitable. But. Under new coach.

29:29

a new start. New demands. Maybe. Maybe.

29:31

That was another thing that could the songs

29:33

retraced and co shit. He

29:36

thinks it or those tradeoffs becoming

29:39

loss worthwhile as well. I mean

29:41

it. As with i wanna say

29:43

that the clock they a salad

29:45

regime is over has always a

29:47

dangerous when the sense that said

29:49

a year his his attacking output

29:52

numbers have dropped fairly. Substantially.

29:54

By about thirty side sense of his

29:57

gold gold involvements is this the opposite

29:59

of a purple. Your is it.

30:01

Potentially. In. Our is not many. Mother

30:03

is thirty second birthday. Is it something a little bit

30:05

more long term at this point? Does it look like.

30:08

Yeah I'm willing to find on out, but

30:10

will it happen under someone else? Britain's best.

30:12

Let the legs go during the next closest.

30:16

Impersonal. I still. I mean, I know.

30:18

Jamie Carragher talks my usual to be

30:20

the most reliable finish have club. I

30:23

would probably still say Sala over the

30:25

others. But. It's just

30:27

been really bad time for to loose

30:29

form after the injury in the winter

30:31

and the. Company's customers

30:33

title. Really that solution for from

30:35

all of them Seems responsibility on

30:37

him clearly. But I mean you

30:40

thinking loans and can he get

30:42

back whenever this was about? Now

30:44

isn't that? this was a huge

30:46

opportunity for Liverpool soon. A lot

30:48

of trophies this spring under. Yeah

30:50

that they've missed a chance. I'll

30:53

pick questions will obviously be asked

30:55

about flops, the timing of Tops

30:57

departure, and whether it's ended up

30:59

overshadowing this what was for so

31:01

long a title run. I.

31:03

Mean I'd say if you look at the. Response.

31:06

After he first announced said. You'd

31:09

say of course the Liverpool players reacted

31:11

well and you know it's just been

31:13

down sir. Things like you say poor

31:16

finishing the As. Costume.

31:18

In the and have He Out he said

31:20

the think that it has proved an unwanted

31:22

destruction or had actually galvanize in the pool

31:24

as we've got to was the final thrice.

31:27

He. Had I don't want to shut down

31:29

the question Wrong. but it's not healthy. His

31:32

was cars buses are just under his misinterpreted

31:34

with. I just don't know what it is.

31:36

It's really impossible. To say as

31:38

an ominous the did. You. Have

31:40

a spirited slightly but like you said,

31:43

they found out quite a long time

31:45

ago and. Was this

31:47

always gonna have to? You. Know where our

31:49

expectations of the start of the season of them

31:51

going to go? Blow for blow City and saline.

31:53

I'm. Not. Sure they were. so

31:56

i think on the whole he would say on balance if

31:58

you guys the and what of the bus season of

32:00

Caravan Cup win and kind of where

32:02

they are, has it been a disaster,

32:04

has it been a massive underachievement? It's not been

32:06

anything like the Dortmund season, the ad at

32:09

the end. I don't think you can make any comparisons there. So,

32:12

yeah, it's really hard to say what

32:15

impact it's had. What you can say

32:17

is that there was talk of – Salah was talking about

32:19

the fitting ending and I think they were all had

32:22

this sense but it just hasn't

32:24

come to fruition. Now,

32:27

Jamie Carragher was talking about the future of

32:29

Mo Salah last night and you mentioned that

32:31

there may be interest from Saudi again this

32:33

summer. Are there any other problem

32:35

areas that Liverpool might look to move players on?

32:38

Do you think – I mean, not

32:41

to mention Virgil van Dijk in a

32:43

negative sense because I think since he's fully shaken off

32:45

at injury from a couple of years ago, he's looked

32:47

a bit more like his old self but he's going

32:49

to be 33 in a couple of months as well.

32:52

It's a funny one, isn't it, because there's young

32:54

players coming through, although still questions about

32:57

the longevity of that, but there's

33:00

a few bits that need addressing as well over the summer. Yeah,

33:03

I think so. I think areas

33:06

where – I'm in Andy Robertson even, he's not

33:08

getting younger. But I think – I don't see

33:10

that as such a problem in defence. I actually

33:12

think the age of a lot of Liverpool players

33:14

is quite a positive sign.

33:16

I mean, you think of those forwards, Gapp

33:19

Ojota, Nunez Diaz, all at a good age.

33:21

The midfield rebuild has already been,

33:24

Canate is a good age, good

33:27

player. And then you get better as well. I

33:30

think Trent as well. So I

33:32

think there's a team there for someone to take

33:34

over and take on. I think Salah's probably the

33:36

most interesting one, just in terms of his status

33:38

at the club and maybe what the impact of

33:40

that is, tactically, for the club. Title

33:44

race next year, what do you think? It's going

33:46

to be a big ask for someone taking over

33:48

from club, isn't it? And especially when we're saying

33:50

that they were doing so

33:52

well to even be involved in the conversation this time

33:54

around. Yeah, I think so.

33:56

But back in the Champions League, it's an elite job.

33:59

It's a great opportunity. But yeah, a lot of

34:01

work to do. Well,

34:03

Liverpool are back in action this

34:05

Saturday at West Ham with

34:07

a 12.30 lunchtime kickoff, which

34:09

they're not best pleased about. But the

34:12

next day, it's all about the North

34:14

London Derby Tottenham facing Arsenal

34:16

at the Emirates Live on

34:18

Sky Sports on Super Sunday

34:21

Live on Sky Sports Premier League from 1pm

34:23

kickoff at 2pm before Man City travel to

34:25

Nottingham Forest for the 4.30 kickoff, which you

34:28

can also catch live on

34:30

Sky Sports. We've also got QPR against

34:32

Leeds, a massive game at the top

34:34

of the championship. And also make sure

34:36

you keep across Sky Sports News and

34:38

the Sky Sports website for all the

34:40

latest news. You can also find out

34:42

how to follow us on WhatsApp details

34:44

on the Sky Sports website for that.

34:47

But for now, thank you very much for listening.

34:49

For myself and Adam, have a great weekend. Hello,

34:58

everybody. Nick Hobbs here. Now, if you

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