Transcript generated automatically by AI and may contain errors.
Chapter 1: What is the main topic discussed in this episode?
Hello and welcome to the Sky Sports Football Weekend Preview. In a special edition of the podcast, we'll be focusing on this weekend's huge clash between Liverpool and Man Utd at Anfield, which you can watch live on Sky Sports Premier League from 4pm on Sunday. Will Liverpool make it 13 Premier League wins on the spin?
Chapter 2: What are the expectations for Liverpool vs Man Utd this weekend?
Or can Man United, the only team to have taken points off the Premier League leaders this season, upset their fierce rivals? I'm Peter Smith, the Sky Sports Football Features Editor, and joining me in the studio this week to dissect the game are two of our top football journalists, Gerard Brand. Hi. Hey, and Oli Yu. Hello. How's it going, guys? Good, thank you.
Very excited. This game feels big and it's no different this time. There's always a narrative around it. We can always find a narrative and there always is.
Very excited. It's always one to mark your calendar for, this one. We'll also be joined by two Sky Sports News reporters who have their ears to the ground at each club. Liverpool expert Vinnie O'Connor and Manchester United man James Cooper will be joining us later in the show.
Plus, if that wasn't enough, Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher will be sharing his verdict on the big game in part three of this podcast. First up though Gerrard, you were at Old Trafford back in October to see that 1-1 draw. Still the only time that a team has stopped Liverpool winning in the Premier League this season.
So what are your memories of that game and how Ole Gunnar Solskjaer managed to take a point off this Liverpool side?
Well, essentially did what they did at the Etihad in December, but to slightly less success. I mean, they had 32% possession and when they got hold of it, it was like a four-pronged attack, like the Red Arrows. And I'd actually go as far as saying it's the only time this season that Liverpool have looked seriously unsettled for a long period of a game.
But once again, United really began to sat in, whether that was to protect their lead or because they were sort of spent, probably more of the latter. And Liverpool just about managed to get something for Adam Lallana. Now, there were a couple of doubts after the Liverpool game. It was really their first sign of weakness in the season. Their new defensive line was sort of questioned.
But I mean, it's fair to say they haven't really looked back since.
Yeah, there's been some response, isn't it? You know, winning. Just winning, winning, winning, winning and winning week after week after that game to take this huge commanding lead they've got at the top of the Premier League table. 14 points with a game in hand over Man City and really looking nailed on for the title.
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Chapter 3: How did Liverpool perform against Man Utd in their last match?
The Arsenal game is a slight anomaly in that it was against a big side. Normally those blips would come against a Bournemouth or a side who are struggling. But that one did come against Arsenal. But it wasn't an Arsenal with a new energy and a new identity under Arteta. But as I say, United should have all the motivation they need this weekend.
Yeah.
Gerrard, is that what we can expect from United on Sunday? A team who go and are very conservative when they don't have the ball but then try and hit Liverpool on the break at any opportunity they have?
Well, I think for United to be successful, this sort of four-pronged attack is all well and good, but you can't be successful without a good defence. It just doesn't happen. They won't get into the top two, three, four without a good defence, so that's going to be tested to the max.
Well, we're on the topic of Manchester United. I'm delighted to say we're joined by Sky Sports News reporter James Cooper. How are you doing, James?
Yeah, good. Not too bad. Big, big game coming up.
Yeah, absolutely. What's the mood like around Manchester United going into this one?
you know, I think he's optimistic. Back-to-back wins, I think, you know, back-to-back clean sheets as well. You know, these kind of small steps, if you like, for Manchester United, but the right sort of steps to be taking ahead of a game like this.
And I think, you know, you've got a manager steeped in the tradition of Manchester United who was here and brought to the club by a manager who wanted to knock Liverpool off their perch. He did that. He had the 20 titles. Manchester United still have more titles than Liverpool, but clearly there's a realisation that things have changed. And I think
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Chapter 4: What tactical approach does Manchester United need to take against Liverpool?
But if he is missing, they do have the option of Mason Greenwood. Solskjaer this week has said he's not ready for England, but everyone needs their breakout performance. And we all remember Marcus Rashford against Arsenal a few years ago. And maybe Greenwood can make the same impact on Sunday at Anfield.
Okay, in part two of this show, we'll be looking at the changes Klopp's made to this Liverpool team. And we'll also get the latest from that camp from Vinnie O'Connor. Welcome back to the Sky Sports Football Weekend Preview. Now Liverpool boss Jürgen Klopp says he's not bothered by all these records that Liverpool are stacking up. But I think they warrant some attention.
So let's just break it down. They've gone 38 Premier League games unbeaten. They've picked up 104 points across those games, which is a record. And they've scored in their first 21 games of a season. The first time they've done that since 1933. Gerrard, they're incredible numbers aren't they? And at the heart of this transformation of Liverpool into this huge absolute powerhouse is Jurgen Klopp.
Now I know you've done a quite in-depth piece this week on the changes that he's made since he's been at Liverpool and how he's got them to this point. So how important has he been in this process?
Well, Paul Merson said in the week that he could take Rotherham to the Premier League. So Rotherham fans, listen up. This is how he does it. That could be his next move. He's contracted till 24 from Liverpool to Rotherham. But it's not just about big results or squad transformation or even the Champions League win. It's actually more subtle culture changes that he brings in.
And one of the most important steps that I've written about is actually the first step, which is when he went to the Kop after a 2-2 draw with West Brom and he sort of went to celebrate or to show appreciation I mean West Brom weren't doing much at that time and nor were Liverpool really and he went up to the Kop with all his players and It looked like he was celebrating, he was laughed.
James McLean called him a bit of an idiot. Yeah, that's something he used to do at Dortmund a lot, wasn't it? Yeah, exactly. But what he was doing there was really subtle and it's actually still playing out now. That relationship with the home crowd is actually hugely undervalued in football, I think.
I've read so many players say that at some points in their career they'd rather actually play away from home because home crowds can actually boost you up to 12 men and they can also pummel you down to 10 or 9 men and bring in the fans to the Kop like he did that day. And it showed an appreciation and he's actually started a relationship between them.
He's repeatedly talking about the atmosphere at Anfield. And when the team concede or they need a goal or even when they're leading and there's groans, he's always got his arms up in the air, either telling them to get up or telling them to sort of get behind the team.
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Chapter 5: What is the mood like in the Manchester United camp ahead of the match?
I've worked with him, so I'm well aware of Jordan's qualities and what he's like around the dressing room. If you're a manager, having someone like that in the dressing room, it's gold dust. The quality of the player, the professionalism, also the example he sets every day. And as I said, Liverpool have brought lots of players under Jürgen Klopp.
certainly in his position, and he still plays, and that just says it all about him.
Excellent. So, just looking at the bigger picture then, Jamie, beyond Sunday's game, if Liverpool do go on to win the Premier League, as I think most people will now expect them to do, that'll take them to 19 English League titles, one behind United. Klopp has got a contract till 2024. Could it be that he'll be the man to take Liverpool back to the top of the English game? Well, doubt to doubt.
You think when Jürgen Klopp hits Liverpool, we're not to win the league this season and it doesn't happen in the next three or four years. Who could win it for Liverpool if this man doesn't? He is a special manager at this moment.
I think him and Pep Guardiola at the moment are out there as the two top managers in world football and they look like they are possibly, certainly if you go off the last few years, going to dominate English football. Things can change. very quickly. There's no doubt about that.
But yeah, for Liverpool, yes, we'll talk about it being a first Premier League title if they can get across the line at the end of the season. But really, from a Liverpool point of view, it's number 19. And as you said, Man United are number 20. I'm sure that'll be the aim the following season if Liverpool do achieve it this season. But it's not just the league titles.
There's European Cups you've got to add in there if you can compare in Liverpool and Manchester United as well.
OK.
It's exciting times for Liverpool fans, Jamie. Just before you go, what's your prediction for Sunday?
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Chapter 6: How significant is Marcus Rashford's fitness for Manchester United's chances?
OK, it should make for interesting viewing on Sunday, certainly. OK, that's all we've got time for in today's Weekend Preview podcast. But before we leave you, here's a full rundown of the Premier League games this weekend. Watford versus Tottenham is the lunchtime game on Saturday.
Then at three o'clock, we have Arsenal versus Sheffield United, Brighton versus Aston Villa, Man City Palace, Norwich-Bournemouth, Southampton versus Wolves and West Ham versus Everton. And then the late game on Sky is Newcastle versus Chelsea.
and then you've got your two Super Sunday games Burnley vs Leicester warms us up for Liverpool vs Manchester United and remember you can watch that huge Liverpool vs Manchester United game live on Sky Sports Premier League from 4 o'clock on Sunday if you're out and about don't worry you can watch the goals as they go in on the website app on YouTube channel without being a subscriber and you can catch the highlights shortly after full time there's also a special offer available so if you sign up for Sky Sports ahead of Liverpool vs Manchester United you get all 8 Sky Sports channels for just £20 extra a month for 18 months
If you're not a Sky TV customer, you also need Sky Entertainment. Offering Sunday night, but if you visit the Sky Sports website, you've got all the details there. Okay, guys, thanks, Gerard. Thank you. And thanks, Ollie. Thank you. Thanks for joining us. Enjoy the weekend. Enjoy the big game on Sunday. And we'll see you soon.