Chapter 1: What is the main topic discussed in this episode?
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Welcome in to the latest edition of ESPN AFC. I'm Dan Thomas, joined by Shakir Hiss and Stevie Nicoll. In the Premier League, we could have started with Chelsea or Liverpool, but we thought we'd kick things off by wallowing in Stevie's misery. It's another disappointing performance from Arnaud Slottside, who of course looked so good midweek. That's the end of that.
Brighton thoroughly deserving of their 2-1 victory. It wasn't all bad for Liverpool because Chelsea would then lose against Everton. So what it means is that Liverpool remain one point clear in the race for the Champions League. But look at Everton now on the chase of their Merseyside rivals. Seven matches to go. Liverpool, of course, chasing that place in the Champions League.
Stevie, for those who didn't see the match, how bad were Liverpool today? Well, I think a mess would sum it up. You know, and the funny thing is we were laughing over the last couple of days about a Liverpool back because they battered Galatasaray. And watching this, a Liverpool going backwards, because it reminded me of what we were saying before Christmas.
Liverpool behind, and the slot making all kinds of substitutions, midfielders going to right back, midfielders going to centre back. I mean, just a mess. And when this game finished, the team was a complete mess. Now, some would argue that, and the Slots got to try something, that's how bad they were, that any changes would have made it better.
But as I said, when you look at the team that started, And then you look at the team that finished and the positions they're all playing in. This is just a scramble. He is absolutely scrambling around to try and figure out how to get this team together. And the truth is, he still hasn't found it. The thing is for me,
To your question, Dan, is this any worse than what we've seen for a whole lot of this season from Liverpool? What I thought was interesting today was slightly different. Arnaud Slott's come out with this narrative, it's very difficult to play against teams who put 11 players behind the ball.
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Chapter 2: What were the reasons behind Liverpool's loss at Brighton?
And Brighton have not been one of those teams for so long. And Brighton are such an open game today. But even so, regardless, maybe he's kind of trying to change the narrative of their season, some of their struggles during the course of the season. But as this game went on, I didn't think this was any different from what we've seen for Liverpool for at least 50% of the season.
I think it felt different because it got a Tasserae game and result. So now all of a sudden you're thinking, well, this is... Galatasaray, you may argue, is as good as Liverpool have been all season. And now you think, well, finally things are clicking for them. But... That aside, the Galatasaray game aside, this is no real difference from what we've seen.
You know, we were criticising Rossinho the other day for being inexperienced and naive with his comments. Mm-hm. Anaslott doesn't fall into that category. So why is Anaslott not coming out and saying, you know what, this isn't good enough? We got beat in every single category possible today. Outplayed, out-fought, out-ran, out-thought. I mean, you name it.
Every category that it takes to run a football team, Liverpool were second best today. And I would expect a manager of his experience to come out and say that, instead of coming out with some sort of narrative about injuries or teams sitting back behind the ball. He has got a point, though, hasn't he? Eketike, obviously, out. Izak, out. You're playing without a striker.
He has some excuses that are valid, yes. But when you play in a game and you get beaten on every single category that counts in football, you can't turn around and start throwing out little excuses. Sometimes you've got to put your hands up and say, this isn't good enough, I've not been good enough, I need to find a way. That's the kind of rhetoric he needs to be coming out with.
Not lame excuses. Because that's what that said. That one you just brought out there, I didn't know he said that.
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Chapter 3: What are the implications of Liverpool's current standings in the Champions League race?
No, that was before this game, though, to be fair. This is what he'd been saying before. And again, that's just a lame excuse. What's interesting, so what was it, 24 points? They're 24 points worse off than they were at this time last season. If I've been on the moon and I've just come back and I haven't seen any of Liverpool this season. You wouldn't believe it. What's the reason?
How many reasons do you need? What's the key reason? There's not one key reason. Right. There's not one key reason. There are just so many reasons. I mean, this time last year, they only lost the second game. I think they've lost nine already. I mean, that's just, that's not acceptable. And the reasons are... There's multiple.
Arne Slott clearly hasn't been at his best because of the way the team's playing. The players 100% haven't been at their best. You question whether... What does Arne Slott have to do to warrant keeping his job? He somehow... Now, listen, I think he should keep his job regardless of whether he gets in the Champions League or not. I think he should keep his job because of what he did last year.
And then he gets, here's your chance. You've got to change it now. Because sometimes, you know, a lot of people say to me already, they go, well, he's not changing it now. So how's he going to change it in the new year? Well, trust me, professionally it does change. Teams can be at that level. And then they drop down. Certainly not as low as Liverpool have dropped down.
Without a real honest, straightforward, you can put your finger on excuse. So that's why I think he should get another chance at the start of the season. That really is where I think he is. I agree. I think he will. I think Liverpool will finish in the Champions League spots. Speculation is that England will get another fifth-place spot. Jack, you just said this doesn't surprise you.
We've seen this from Liverpool most of the season. They've got seven games to go. Why all of a sudden are they going to find enough form to push themselves into a Champions League spot? Well, they're not this year. If England gets that fifth spot, I think Liverpool just about squeak in because so many others are kind of flailing around them similarly.
nothing happens in a vacuum would Arne Slott not be Liverpool's manager last season for whatever reason and he comes in spends 500 million in the summer and then you see this there's no question in my mind that he would not be Liverpool's manager to start next season but he saw them through to a title win last season that's bought him just about enough equity to see him start to see him start next season I think Arne Slott
This has been a season for Liverpool to learn a lot from, including on a slot. Now, again, while you could look at the squad, whether you want to blame injuries, just poor form generally, I also think, I've sat here in this studio and said time and time again, you give players an excuse to lose a game, nine times out of ten they're going to take it.
On the back of that result against Galatasaray, he comes out and says, well, we're the only team playing on a Saturday and it's early. While that's true and that's valid, Build on the momentum that you generated against Galatasaray. Don't talk about, well, everybody else has played Sunday. You want to play tomorrow. That's the message you've got to be giving. But he kind of comes out with this.
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Chapter 4: What changes does Liverpool need to make to improve their performance?
Kylian MbappƩ!
Real Madrid have turned it around at the Metropolitano. What a game this is. 2-2. Floated in, it's a great ball. Adekule punish for the high boots.
Yes! Goal! Goal! Goal! Julian with a piece of genius and Atleti are in dreamland. Bayern are coming forward and a chance for Antoine Griezmann to make it five.
A historic afternoon for Atleti. They have put five past league leaders Real Madrid. It's the 304th time these two sides have met and this is a big one for the coach Xabi Alonso.
There's still debate about what his future might be.
My goodness me, that is a traitor bullet! Rodrigo, brilliant from him, solo goal and finished superbly.
Simeone, solo, scores this time, text together. Oh, that was nearly it. That was the moment for Atletico to grab an equaliser. They ground that out, Real Madrid, and they've got the job done.
Since then, of course, there was a new man in charge. Arbeloa taking over Real Madrid, who safely made it through to the quarterfinals of the Champions League this week. And it's still in the title race with Barcelona. For more on this, look at this beautiful line-up. Look at that. Ian Dart, the most handsome of them all. Ian. I wish.
I've got two footballers here who are world experts in Spanish football. Unlike me, I should add. But look, I think it's pretty clear from what the coach was saying there that Kylian Mbappe will be playing and he'll be an electric presence, won't he? It has to be, and everybody is expecting Kylian Mbappe to bring his best.
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