From Community Shield to In-House Drama: Liverpool's Season Analysis

What really happened during Liverpool's rollercoaster season? Join us, along with special guests Dave  and Jamie from Football Chats, as we reminisce about the early optimism that followed the Community Shield win against Manchester City and discuss the factors that led to the team's eventual decline in energy levels. From Klopp's admission of making a mistake to in-house fighting, we explore every aspect that contributed to the pressure on Klopp and the team this season.

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Transcript

Speaker 1: Hi everyone. I'm welcome to another edition of the Liverpool Connection podcast. I am Daza. I am joined today by two of my favourite podcasts, or video casts. Is that what you call them now?

Speaker 2: I don't know what these youngsters call these First one

Speaker 1: first I've got Dave from Dave LFC Chats and I've got Jamie from Jamie Phillips Football Chats. I cannot believe this is the first time I've been on here. I'm chuffed to bits to have you. Very knowledgeable these two, and funny as well, which is pretty good to have, and I noticed a little bit greyer after the season we've had.

Speaker 2: I'm on to fight just for a minute.

Speaker 1: Exactly, and man's sleep, man's sleep. Today I brought him on to do a season ending review of a season that we can pretty much want to forget about. I'm going to start with you, dave. Let's go back August. Community Shield. Let's start there. Let's start there.

Speaker 2: I'll tell you after that game. We know what happened. Darwin scored the win. I think it was 3-2 in the end. You actually forget because I want to forget this season. I'll continue on. The optimism was huge. The optimism after that game was we're going to win the league. It's between us and City, let's go. We're after beating them. Helen looks great, everything looks great. Darwin looks really good getting that goal. The team looks fresh after a really long season, 63-match season, and stuff like that. I was full of optimism. I mean, you can't lie because you can look back. It's all on YouTube, it's saved on August and September chats. I was ready to rock and roll. I think I was talking to you, daz as well, about it. I was really looking forward to an absolutely fantastic season where Liverpool would have been right up there and fighting on All Fronts Champions League, fa Cup, league of Blades. We did the season before and be ready to rock and roll. Unfortunately, it didn't quite turn out that way, did it?

Speaker 1: Jamie, for you I mean beating City in a community shield. I thought we'd kick on from there. We all knew what happened. What was your thoughts? that first match back?

Speaker 3: Well, first match back was a bit of a weird one. I went through pre-season and I did a lot of pre-season work. I thought there was something wrong with the team in pre-season. Not quite right, something went wrong. They looked tired. Still, liverpool had a very short pre-season clock. I even mentioned a bit that pre-season was quite short and it didn't get everything anyone did. When the community shield came around they just seemed to pick up a level. But then you go back and watch it and look at it now and that is the end. You go back and look City only had one game pre-season. For that community shield game They were just fine in their fitness levels. We know City is sometimes a little bit of a slow starter and they turn up at the end of seasons. But yeah, i was still a little bit concerned and the team looked tired. But then I looked at a fixture list for them and Palace in our first two games. I thought, okay, that's a comfortable first two games. But obviously we know that's not how it started, especially against Fulham.

Speaker 1: Well, in hindsight, i'd like to go back and find the video that I don't do predictions, as you know, but I'd like to go back and erase what I said. I said we need a midfielder. I said it because I just thought we'd be okay And God, was I dead wrong. I mean it just looking back. Even Klopp has stated he made a mistake. The two Shumene looked close and then, as people do, as we've seen now with Bellingham, when Real Madrid come calling, they usually go to Real Madrid. It's just the way it is. It doesn't matter whether Liverpool were on top, but yeah it just.

Speaker 1: I got blindsided, i think, with how good we played last season. But I think we forget these players are human beings as well and not robots. Virgil said it like after the World Cup as well. It was just like we're tired of being cheated like robots. I can't imagine, as football fans ourselves, i was devastated at the end of last season, physically and mentally. I was drained. Can you imagine, having to play that many games and getting that close as well, how it feels for these footballers? I don't think many others really take a step back and really understand what they've gone through as well.

Speaker 3: No, we don't. I mean this Liverpool team for this season have really not stopped. You know, you look at the way we compete against Manchester City, but the only club. If you look now I mean you look at this season they only finished on 89 points and that sounds mad, but it seems like when Liverpool aren't competing against City, city coast to a title in 88 points. You know, it just shows that the effort this football club put in in the last few years as they came to the end of their cycle, the end of last season, i mean it looks like that now Now we finish the season now, but obviously there's a lot of optimism going into it because what we did the previous season, but yeah, then the energy this team will take I mean the way Jürgen Klopp wants to play football, it's very energy.

Speaker 3: Zapping It's very. It takes a lot out of you. We haven't got the biggest squad in the world, so we have to play a lot of the same players. And players are Virgil, you know, getting that massive injury coming back after a year and basically not stop playing since, and having a World Cup, you know it shattered. Mo Seller I don't know how he still goes. I think Mo Seller can still play now. Actually He looks as fit as a fiddle, don't he, you know? but yeah, i'm not surprised these players are shattered man. Maybe it's something we've got to look into more this season coming How we look after players a little bit better And we have to change things around. I'm not sure, dave.

Speaker 2: Yeah, i mean, look, we can always deal with a bigger squad. It's quality in the squad you need as well, though. You know you can have a big squad all you want, but you need quality, don't you? You need players in. We're losing a lot of players now, as we know. Loads of players are going out. I can see a few young lads going. There's even a possibility of Cavalio going. Fabio Cavalio, i would have put him on loan, to be fair, because I still think he's got a lot to give and he's very young to sell. I'd be surprised if they sell to me, really, give me a loan deal. But for me, yeah, look, hindsight's great.

Speaker 2: We hadn't got a great turnaround. As Jamie said, we had a really bad turnaround. The club wasn't happy and there was signs in pre-season. There was a few games where we lost and defensively looked a bit all over the shop A lot of the time. Our defence was a difference back for in those pre-season games They're saying, okay, maybe, and then it seemed to gel a bit in the community shield and then everybody's optimism went out the window and the reality basing that 2-2 draw against Fuller McCards, we could have lost that game, could have lost that game And just we're doing un-Liverpool things, where we were doing things that we weren't expecting, things that we didn't expect and didn't see for four or five seasons before. It was a surreal, salvador Dali-esque, bloody season and I don't want to see any more Salvador Dali. I don't want to see him, i want to see him in a gallery. You don't want to see him on the pitch next season And I just think it is quality, it's size and it's quality of the team.

Speaker 2: And we did miss a midfielder. I know you said you didn't think we needed one. I think I did say we did need one, but we weren't going to get one and we didn't get one. I thought we should have got one. In January We went for Hackbow, which turns out he will be a great sign And I know he will be, and it was brilliant to sign him. But I still think we needed a midfielder at that time And we had the money for two shamanic. So the money was there for the midfielder. It was put aside. We didn't get him And we just said, well, you'll hold on, We get after Melo Melo dramatic signing. I mean he's playing 13 bloody minutes. 13 minutes, i mean it's ridiculous. You know what I mean.

Speaker 1: And he got off of Melo. I signed Shate out of it as well.

Speaker 2: I have to mention after Melo He's the only mention he's going to get in this podcast. I mean, like you know what I mean. I mean it's been a crazy season And tiredness, injuries, Some strange decisions from Klopp And I'm sure the pressure I think pressure told on Klopp for the first time in his Liverpool managerial career Ordered in four seasons We had with him. There was a bit of pressure there, I think, on him. You know we had such a great season season before this season Things weren't going right And you can see it in his press conferences.

Speaker 2: Lads, He wasn't right in the press conferences. Surely there's stuff going on in the background that we haven't heard. We hear about maybe in a few years in the book, a new book when it comes out. Well, the Pep Linders book didn't help either, I'm sure, And I'm sure there was something going on in the background. You know there was. I'd say it was in-house fighting and stuff. You haven't heard about it. He likes a tight knit Klopp likes that tight knit thing And it was a few things said And I know a few things said in press conferences and stuff, and it actually turned out to be wrong To James Pierce. He was a mistake, by the way, It wasn't James Pierce. It was meant to be someone else And he did say sorry to James. I actually talked to James after that was all started, But it just wasn't Klopp this season, was it? It just didn't have that big white teeth smile. You know what I mean. And disappointing season, But we just go again. I mean what a Liverpool fans won't stop me loving Liverpool.

Speaker 1: Yeah, no, no, no, just a little. fighting with the, the journals was, wasn't Klopp was?

Speaker 2: it. Yeah, Nickle, Nickle wasn't it.

Speaker 1: All the time. I mean I can't imagine being asked the same questions over and over again, though you know as Klopp does, but I mean there was no need to jump down half of these journals throughout You. Just yeah, it's a job like.

Speaker 3: Yeah, exactly It's like it's like, it's like. It's like when you're, when you get in your car with your kid and they go, i'll be there there about 50 times And you just say, finally, the last one's like that's what Klopp's like with these press conferences. I do a lot of reactions to press conferences on my channel. We watch them as a channel and we react to them, because I get sick and tired of people misquoting him all the time on Twitter and stuff like that, because he does my editing. So we do reactions to my channel. Now watch the whole thing and don't know. I've got to wave it as long, but it's alright.

Speaker 2: But you're a fuck now Yeah.

Speaker 3: And he's definitely not been his normal self. I don't know what it is that we never hear about him in side fighting at the football club. The boobatch thing got sort of swept under the carpet. I don't think we'll ever ever know what really happened there. You know the Pep Linders stuff. I think Pep Linders gets a really hard time for no reason.

Speaker 3: Sometimes I don't get it that we want everything under Pep Linders. I mean, it's a bit harsh to say, you know, because, look, a lot of people don't like blaming the manager for stuff, so they look at what's around him and blame Pep, blame Pep Linders and a book he brought out. Like people only found out how Liverpool played because of a book. Exactly, i'm sure they got scouts and watches play on a regular. It's a no-how We play football. It's not difficult. Yeah, there's been a lot of in-house fighting at Liverpool. We've been a lot of fighting on social media.

Speaker 3: The whole thing is like everyone's confused. I think Liverpool fans are just confused at the moment. They're confused about everything. They're confused about the transfers, what way? the way Klopp is playing. You know the Pep Linders stuff, the book. You know why has Julian Walled left after only just signing his contract and still probably don't really know too much. Then people make up lies about why Michael Wedwood's left and the whole thing's a bit mad at the moment at the football club. Let's just hope that this is it And then in the summer we start fresh. No game plan, no face season. Here we go again.

Speaker 1: As Dave said, Yeah, i've never seen our fans attack each other as I have this season. Obviously, social media plays a massive part. Twitter can be very toxic.

Speaker 2: This top red bollocks versus whoever reds does my head in, you know where it reminds me of Daz and I know you're in Texas in the States.

Speaker 2: It actually reminds me of the American political system at the moment, where you have Republicans and Democrats, both Americans, both Liverpool fans, let's say, and you're split right down the middle 50-50. You've got FSGL, you've got FSG in, you've got Klopp in, you've players like Naby Cater playing Twister and Monopoly on a Friday night before the game, getting injured. You've all these stuff going on. So to me it's like an analogy of the American. You know, i'm not saying boy and miss Klopp, but I'm just saying a Democratic-Republican trick. I know a bit about the American politics, i'm sure you do too, and it's not as divisive as that. But that's the analogy. It is split down the middle.

Speaker 3: Totally.

Speaker 1: Well, i mean, you can't blame a book on how bad we're doing. It's just like. you know we've had four guys in the team. You know Lucas used to be one. If we'd ever lose, it's Lucas' fault. Now it's Hendo's fault, it's just one player. Now it's Pep's fault for writing a book, you know, before his time has finished at Liverpool. It's got nothing to do with that. It's got everything to do with just being tired, having the preparation, wasn't it? Not having fresh faces. you know, close Plus we're in transition.

Speaker 2: We're in transition.

Speaker 3: Yeah, we will be next year as well. And look, liverpool fans have just got to realise that we're competing against something you've never seen in football, really against Manchester City, they're. they're, look, things do not like about our owners. I get it, but there are things to praise them about. I mean, people might not like it, but there is, you know. And look, do I want to be owned by a football club that can, you know, make a sponsor? or airways that goes and buys me a star striker? Yeah, i mean, you know, there's things like that. We're competing against that, you know, and everyone's competing against that. And Liverpool under Jurgen Klopp and FSG because they are, they come as a group.

Speaker 3: I'm sick of all these separate stuff because when we lose a game of football for some reasons, fsg's fault, but when we win everything, it's all Jurgen Klopp and nothing to do with the ownership. It's madness. I don't get it. For me, it's one big thing We lose together, we win together. I don't get why we separate it all the time. And Liverpool have gone so close against this machine that no one can get close to at this moment in time, probably not even in Europe. Look what they just did around with Trid. You know they're the best team in world football. they're out there on the pitch. What's going off the pitch, that's up to the the, the lawyers and all that to discuss. You know we don't want to get in that muddle but you know, on the pitch this city team are incredible And this Liverpool team under the ownership people might not like it Whiskers away.

Speaker 3: Last season we were 20 minutes away from winning the Premier League. Bobby Watkins went and scored his one-on-one. We're probably Premier League champions. You know we outplayed round Madrid in a final and a goalkeeper had the game of his life And we just in one mistake at the back, you know. and then all this doom and gloom. it's just that we've had a bad year. But yes, the manager will bounce back. I've got questions over him last season. this season just gone, yeah, but a lot of people have. but I'm sure he's good enough to get himself back into the game. The players we've got too much quality. You can't tell me all these players just died all at the same time. They're just, they're bounce back. But you know, people, there's no patient. I don't know about you guys, but we're older so we probably appreciate a little bit more. But the younger generation. they've got no patients, no more. Everything has to be today, instant gratification.

Speaker 2: Instant gratification That's what it is.

Speaker 1: Yeah, if you have watched two bug games. It's like get rid of it. And you know, new news for you know pop, his point is like he's not done it. Yeah, you know, sometimes we have players like Diaz that hit the ground running. You know Who knows? Obviously he's working progress. I think he'll come good next season. I really do, but that all depends on having a midfield that can supply And defence.

Speaker 2: Our defence needs to be tighter.

Speaker 3: Has he done that bad though, darwin?

Speaker 2: No, his numbers are quite good.

Speaker 3: His numbers are good. I've had arguments Diaz and I as well. I've had arguments so many people on my channel about Darwin And the way I look at it. Darwin don't quite suit our system at the moment. I think we can all agree on that. The way we play look Goli Gakko came in in January bang Suits.

Speaker 3: The way Klopp wants to play I think understanding what Klopp wants him to do is a big plus in Gakpo as well. Darwin, you know he must look at Jürgen and sometimes just I don't know what you want me to do, son, but Darwin, he's got to learn the way Klopp wants to play. Look, i don't think Darwin was meant to come in and be an automatic starter for Liverpool. We spent a lot of money on him, but it was to get a player. Because I always moaned about this Liverpool never go and get the good young players now, before anyone else picks him up. Go and get them and they don't have to hit the ground straight away. In a year or two's time they could be amazing, but you've got to make your club ready for them And I think Jota and Diaz will mean to take the line share with Salah and probably Bobby as the forward line this season And then bringing Darwin for bits so we can like he did with Fabinho and Robbo and stuff like that, to learn the way we play.

Speaker 3: But unfortunately, because of our club we would get no injuries or everyone dies at the same time And we lost Diaz, we lost Jota for a lot, big chunks of the season. Bobby got his injuries as well. So Darwin had the play and he had to learn on the job. And he played left wing for a lot, 15 goals in all competitions, playing left wing, not really knowing the system, not really understanding what Jürgen wants him to do yet Not having the midfield behind him to put in through balls in for him, to find a space for him, have workers around him. So I think Darwin's done all right. People are just so like all right, he's done, he's finished. That's selling, make our money back, that's going to get. It's just that's keeping him. Because I'm telling you right now, if Darwin was up for sale tomorrow, big clubs be in for him. Big clubs because they know the player he can be, because he's only 22-23, he's not finished the article yet. You polish this guy and he could be something special. I'm telling you.

Speaker 2: Yeah, I like him. I look, I'm not writing him off. He's only a kid, as you just said, And I do like Hackbow, Hackbow, whatever you want to pronounce his name, He looks like a real you know Lumpakol, although we knew he was good.

Speaker 2: you know he'd run in from and he's a Dutch international, so we had a bit of an idea about him, but he was really good. But I just think Nunes I mean his numbers are bad. from starting games coming on, he did a lot of substitutions. coming on, he's made a few goals, scored 15, as you said. I'm not worried about him, i'm just worried about him fitting into a system, though, as you said, hackbow suits the system a lot more. Darwin's really a number nine, really isn't he? He's a big lad, he's great with the head, he's a really. he can play on the wing, but I think he suits down the middle. He's so awkward. I call him Captain Chaos. I'm sure everybody does. he's so chaotic. he's so chaotic And he's great at having your arsenal. But it didn't help Jota, as you said, and D-Al's being bloody injured, because then the pressure was on him and he got sent off against Palace, which didn't help. Oh, you know, that really knocks his bleeding confidence back, didn't it?

Speaker 3: It's just. It's just. You know. I love the fact I think a bit of the fire has gone out of Darwin as the season went on. I will admit I think a bit of the fire went out of him. I think Darwin has to play on the edge. He's that kind of player. It's a bit like Rooney. You couldn't take the fire out. People try to take the fire out of Wayne Rooney, but you lose the player, you know, because he plays on the edge as Harry plays, and I don't think we could do that. Swarovs, swarovs as well. Lose Swarovs, swarovs, yeah, yeah. So obviously don't do what Swarovs did. We're all right. What'd you put a metal guard on?

Speaker 2: him.

Speaker 3: But you've got to have someone like Darwin. You tell Claude, yeah, darwin's part of your attacking squad next season. He's like, yeah, come on.

Speaker 2: Yeah.

Speaker 3: I've got him. Jota Thala Diaz yeah, i'm happy. And Gackpo look, gackpo's got seven goals since January. It's gone so under the radar. For me, he's the when they do signs of the season. I don't think Gackpo would get a shot because he came in January, but he's stats since January is mad And he's played the false nine role. It's not even his position. Yeah, he's a superstar man. He's definitely the best player signed from the Dutch League this season. There's no doubt about that.

Speaker 1: Yeah, oh, and again, not much really gets said about Anthony being, i said, near the same price as well, And Nunes has got better numbers than him. So, yeah, i think a lot of people are just being too hard on him. I think he'll have a breakout season next season. But just like you said, jamie, we've got to play to his advantages, whether it's like he comes off the bench fired up, because we all saw that he was getting frustrated, he was playing on the left too much. They put him in the middle, it wasn't working. So I just think, i think all these lads need a proper preseason and especially if we're going to get new faces in, they need a whole preseason, not this coming right at the end of August, at the end of the chance. No, thank you, but I think our business is going to get done rather quickly.

Speaker 2: He wants it done early, though, doesn't he? He wants it done in June. I mean, we all know, alexis McAllister, that looks like it's going to be done. It's not quite done yet, but it looks like it's going to be done. He wants them in hitting the role ready for Rockford at Germany tour, or whatever they're doing. That's what he wants, yeah.

Speaker 3: The only way to do it is Yeah, but the callus would be perfect for us. He suits the way we play. You only have to watch my Brighton. He plays that midfield role like a clock midfielder. He suits us down to the ground Already knows the Premier League as well. We can get the ground running. I think Lynch, just on Twitter, has just said that we're in for Terran from Nice as well Another quality player. We've got Big George in there as sporting director. He's going to be looking at the German League and looking over other players. So everyone's freaking out because apparently Aston Villa are going in for that round with Drew Player What's his name? Oh, the winger, censio on the free, who looks finished for me, but everyone's freaking out. Why aren't we in for him? Because he wouldn't play for us.

Speaker 2: And the way we go off. Don't let players go at the top.

Speaker 3: Why don't you go off for him as well? He's going off Stupid wages because he's three Quarter a million anyway And it's not going to be worth Liverpool's because he's not going to play any early front and moe. It's like people freak out Transfer window in an open year, is it?

Speaker 1: So that's a good thing, Jamie too. I think people really forget about wages.

Speaker 2: Yeah, do you know how they think about the transfer fee?

Speaker 1: Well, i mean with Bellingham as well. you know there's this quote in it's 83 or 89 million. That's without add-ons, you know, and people would already down their first year's throat going oh well, if we can pay you know, 75 for McAllister, why can't we pay another seven more million to get it doesn't work like that.

Speaker 2: He's probably on twice the wages of McAllister.

Speaker 3: Bellyman's 300k a week. Wherever he goes, he's 300k a week. And look, the people might have dodged a bullet with Bellingham because he has got his dodgy knee at such a young age.

Speaker 2: He's getting it. He's getting it. He's in getting his knee down, isn't he?

Speaker 3: Yeah, what? No, i mean not at all. Yeah, yeah, how many 19, 20 year olds have knee surgery so young? You know, it's a bit of a worry. It's a bit like he might not have another knee injury for the rest of his career. We don't know.

Speaker 3: But I'm Liverpool and I'm thinking right. I haven't got money like a lot of teams. Yes, we want Bellingham, but 85 million It's not the transfer. Transfer fees are not actually the problem. You should say it's wages are what you pay on the yearly. And if Bellingham is 300 grand a week because that's what it is the ask for and it is the get as well, then you've got to think of a sign-on fee, everything that goes to him, agent fees, everything involved. It turns out to be like a Two million for that section. Yeah, it turns out to be two to 300 million pound transfer. That's it. This is what people don't understand. And Liverpool are looking at him thinking right, mcallister, 10 million more cheaper than Bellingham, but we could probably put 140 grand a week And the quality is not like the quality drop is like that. It's quite even So. Yeah, it's good business sense. It's good business sense, but you're not allowed to talk good business sense on social media.

Speaker 2: There is no sense. There is no beauty sense on social media, man, but as you said, i think that's what Liverpool did say They're not going to throw all their eggs into one basket. And they more or less would have been in one basket with Bellingham. They would have been. They wouldn't have watched left if they got Bellingham.

Speaker 1: That was the problem, i think another issue I think a lot of people had was obviously we were courting Bellingham for two, three seasons. I think that's what pissed off a lot of people. But you know, not once have I seen FSG or Klopp say they were in for him. You know they've said they'd like the player and you know media or run with it, it was fans.

Speaker 2: It was actually fans pushing the agenda, i think, wanting them, needing them, and it didn't help the likes of Carragher, stevie G all ex-reds basically courting them, being pictured with Henderson being pictured with Trent outside Pop World You know what I mean, all these types of things. So it didn't help And it built up a conspiracy theory that he's actually a Liverpool player and he ain't gone anywhere else. You know what I mean.

Speaker 3: I tell you what I didn't want.

Speaker 2: I didn't want him going to the likes of a man's city, I mean if it bellingham went to a man's city, we'd all be beat. You know what I'm saying. If he goes to Madrid, it's one thing, but if he comes into the Premier League and goes to a United or a city, i think it's a bigger problem for us.

Speaker 3: Yeah, i mean, it's the in-bappé thing all over again, ain't it? The in-bappé mum, for some reason, is a Liverpool fan And in-bappé for her birthday, just got a meeting with John Henry and Jürgen Klopp for her And everyone's like, oh right, that's how he wants to play for us. And then he just sort of told his mum, yeah, i play for Liverpool one day, you know, just that flip thing, you know. And everyone went over to the apartment and put, oh, it's the in-bappé summer all over again. No, it ain't. Liverpool was never in front of a bad boy, it's never going to happen.

Speaker 3: No, we're at Jürgen Bellingham. No, of course Liverpool are interested in Jürgen Bellingham. You're interested? I mean I'm interested in the Lamborghini. I'm not going to get one, but I'm interested, you know.

Speaker 3: And look, jude, it's a lot of money on a kid that still hasn't proved it yet. For me, in the biggest of times I think he's been OK for England. I think a lot of these England performances get a little overrated because England are desperate for a superstar, another young superstar breakthrough, like a Gerard and a Lowing did and a Rooney did, desperate for that next one. He is a good player, but it's a lot of money to fork out on a player we like Bellingham that I don't know what he's best at yet.

Speaker 3: You know, is he a box-to-box player? That is sort of what he looks like to me. If he is a box-to-box player and he's got this knee brace that he's playing with and he's got knee issues and he's having his surgery at a young age with his knee, playing for Liverpool might not be the best for his career injury-wise. Because, yeah, matt, running you after doing a Jürgen Klopp midfield, especially in these box-to-box. So yeah, i think Jude looked at it as well and thought Ramadrius is probably my best bet, because that Modric could play him for Ramadrius, which is 45, probably because he don't have to have a. Ramadrius Cruz is getting old as well.

Speaker 2: They need him Yeah exactly. It's a Dundee, like I'd say to Madrid. I'd say it's a Dundee. I just didn't want them coming to the Premier League. Jamie, i was thinking Jesus City get him. I mean they don't? Bernard Penado Silva is getting older and few of the midfielders are getting. If they got him, they wouldn't need much more really, would they?

Speaker 1: Well, that's what I'm saying, That's what my dad is doing. I mean, imagine being told like look, you can learn from the lights of Modric and Cruz for a year, and then they're leaving, and then you're going to be the superstar. I mean, you're signing, aren't you? You just start.

Speaker 3: Yeah, ramadrius, yeah, ramadrius. At the end of the day, that badge and that white kit, it's just. They're the biggest club in world football. I think Ramadrius are the only club in world football that would never lose their pool. I literally think they're just the. That's the club. And if Ramadrius come calling, it's very hard for you to go turn Ramadrius down because you never know if they ever come again, and we've always been doing himself.

Speaker 3: I think the player Liverpool were actually wanting was Chou of Meney. That was the player Liverpool identified. Jurgen Klopp even spoke about him and said the midfielder we actually wanted went to Ramadrius. Chou of Meney is the one they want, if they could somehow, because Chou of Meney don't fit at Ramadrius right now. If they're getting him, they don't really play him. They've got Cammervinga, who they like because he's versatile. Modric and Cruiser Sign New one year deal, so they're going to be in there another year. You've got Valverdeau, i think, his quality, and then you've got Chou of Meney. You're just sitting around them. If I was Liverpool, i'd seriously go and see if they're I think it'd be Chou of Meney Euros to get him.

Speaker 3: Yeah, i'd see if they could do a loan deal. I'd see if they could do a loan deal for a year. I'd see if they could do a loan deal for a year or something. Because, yeah, he's the I've all the players Liverpool being targeted with. The only one they've really come out and spoke about is Chou of Meney. So that's why I don't really always believe the Jutes stuff, like you guys are saying.

Speaker 2: Yeah.

Speaker 1: Yeah, I agree. So when we started the season, did you have Arsenal doing so well? Did you have Newcastle doing so well? Because I did not help them in my top four.

Speaker 3: I had actually, i think, my predictions video. Going back now I think we all said Arsenal finished third. We're Arsenal finishing third because I looked at the players they had should have finished fourth this season before but fell away. If they can keep that same energy up rotating Europa League, they could probably get top four. Newcastle Eddie Owens had an amazing job at Newcastle keeping their confidence going for 12 months.

Speaker 3: Newcastle every player at Newcastle has played a level above what their actual selves. They've played at such a high level. The thing Newcastle ran a lot of luck with this season is because they've only played one game a week. No, europe Not had a lot of injuries, kept a lot of the players playing same players playing week in, week out. Yeah, they've done really well to get where that. Newcastle will be very interesting next season what they do Champions League, premier League, what they do in the summer transfer market. Can that players stay at that level? Because at that level they stayed up. For me, newcastle, but the squad they had was above their level. Newcastle and Arsenal will be very interesting because I think I said it the other day, i did an early shout the other day I said Arsenal won't finish in top four next season.

Speaker 2: Yeah, I think Arsenal's best chance to win the league was this year.

Speaker 3: Yeah, i think their young players, sakha and Mike and Eddie they rely too much on and they burn out towards the end of the season. And in the Champions League they have to play their best team every week if they want to get far in that competition. They can't rotate like they did in Europa League. So it might take a lot out of Arsenal, but Newcastle don't give them all the credit in the world. The only scary thing is the things you're hearing about Newcastle have come out now about the shirt sponsor that hasn't got a postcode. Yeah, it's a bit worry.

Speaker 2: It's crazy what's going on there as well, unfortunately, at Newcastle and at City, and both of them are going to be there and there. About that, i mean Newcastle doing it slowly, i mean City did it slowly When they were away, when they came in, took a year, a few years to build, build, build and then went bang, bang, bang. And I think Newcastle could do the same, could they can run a two or three years and they'd be right up there probably going for the league.

Speaker 1: That's the thing, you know. We need to get back in the Champions League, but I like what Klopp said, though. You know, if you're coming to Liverpool just you know, to go to the Champions League, forget about it, i'll drive you, drive you back where you. Yeah, that was right. Yeah, liverpool's still a massive pull. Yeah, totally In the Champions League and all, and I believe we'll get back in the Champions League. I do, but it's got to be, you know, the right players this summer. We've got to get it right, you know no.

Speaker 2: It's a huge summer Daz. It's a huge summer for Liverpool football club. I think this summer because we can't fall back any further. If you're out of the Champions League for one year, i think we'll be able to cushion that. Obviously, you want to win your Opal League as I said, finals in Dublin but you want to try to get back in the Champions League in the second attempt. You know what I mean. You don't want to be two, three, four seasons out of the Champions League. That's where you really get hit. You get hit badly. You know what I mean. Klopp's got three years left. Hoping he'll extend these three years left. I think it's very important we get into the top four next year, no matter what happens. Top four.

Speaker 3: I agree.

Speaker 1: Yeah, i mean you can't, you know you can't do your Opal League two years in a row. It's just, we're a big team, You know, i think the biggest in England for sure. You know United fans will probably fight us over that, but I don't care. We are, you know, we're still European giants. We need to be at the top. Positives from this season, i mean for me, obviously, the 7-0 against United is a positive. Yes, we don't get a cup for it. We don't get a cup for it, but it goes down in folklore. You know that we be some Unbelievable something Unbelievable, Unbelievable.

Speaker 2: I'm going to live that up forever. It's international 7s. What date was that? I said to him make one of you make your big United fan. So every date when that comes around next year, it's going to be international 7s day. That was the day we beat the 7-0.

Speaker 1: I mean and even.

Speaker 2: We beat Bournemouth 9-0. We beat Bournemouth 9-0. Then they beat us in their bloody ground. We, you know, we leveled the record 9-0. We've had our surreal season 6-1 away. It leads Ridiculous scorelines, crazy scorelines, and we've had some terrible results. Obviously, forest Barmit leads Brentford. Actually, brentford and Brighton are good sides They're actually decent sides but we actually got hammered by them Both away.

Speaker 1: It's the leads. It's the leads One at home. For me, yes, it was just that the players looked disengaged. instead, the fans looked on edge. I mean, i was worried after that game.

Speaker 2: I don't know about you, daz or Jay. That was a real low point, wasn't it? That was a real.

Speaker 3: Was that our only home loss this season in the league?

Speaker 1: Yeah, yeah, it was weren't it The last one game the leads Homeful.

Speaker 3: Homeful was still fantastic. It was just our waveform. It was so bad this year But, yeah, that 9-0 win was our first win in the Premier League season as well. It was nuts I know, but yeah, yeah, the 7-0. Like United fans after and all the podcasts and all that came out and said what does 7-0 really mean? You know we're still above you and all that Come on. And they didn't even play well, and we didn't even play well, apparently, but scored 7 goals, it's just.

Speaker 3: You beat your arch-rival 7-0. I don't care if I finish 10 places behind you, but I'll beat your arch-rival 7-0. I won't tell.

Speaker 1: And it was 1-0 a half time like Yeah.

Speaker 3: They fell a bit in the second half. What it tells? Do you know what it tells me? I've been saying this for a while now The Premier League is quite weak this year. It's quite a weak league Because I look at Man United, i know they finished third in the Premier League, but They lost nine games, the same as us, scored less than us And, i think, only conceded five less goals than us. They're not good side.

Speaker 2: No, They're not good side.

Speaker 3: No, Then 10-0. Go after it, going on the pitch with that interview and Oh, it was sickening And then going and then having the nerve to say I need players So much We got. It's just.

Speaker 2: But that's why, jamie, that's why it's so important we get this transfer window right, because we're not that far behind United.

Speaker 2: We're not even that far behind Arsenal. Let's be. We should have beaten them at Amphib. There's no doubt about it. I don't know what Canaty was doing at Belly Flop. I don't know what he was doing. But City are on a different level. We just have to say that We pushed City and City pushed us. That's why we all broke that 90 barrier And they broke the 100 barrier. We pushed them to it. Arsenal didn't push them, they pushed them to 89 points. We pushed them.

Speaker 2: Arsenal weren't as good as us. That's the difference. You know what I mean. We're not as consistent as us. We were losing one game and two games a season One and two games for three or four seasons Ridiculous levels. And my only worry was we only won one league, that level we were at, and we only came away with one league, one Champions League. I think we should have at least come away with one more league and maybe another Champions League. That's all I'm saying. I know it's in history and it's in the past, but that was the chance to do it, because the level we were at were ridiculous.

Speaker 3: Well, you look at luck through the seasons, don't you? I mean that my and they offside goal against Arsenal when he's clearly onside, you know that all has gave us three points One. We get the three points. If VAR was there, then we win that game, we win the league and Champions League. That season A humble, you know. With the handball, the rotary handball against Everton, the last second of the game should have been given. They've even apologized, saying they should have given No. So there's things that's got against Liverpool in some ways. But look, yeah, we should have won more. Maybe with the team we had Manager, we got everything behind us. But you know, only one team can win the league, only one team can win a cup. And when the city teams around with Pep Guaileola. But if you ask Pep Guaileola tomorrow who's the team you're worried about next season, i guarantee you says Liverpool. Secretly. If you've got him on his own, no cameras about or anything like that, we wouldn't upset anyone else I guarantee you'd say Liverpool.

Speaker 3: I think I thought I think Petful, liverpool would be his main rivals this season. That's why he was quite willing to let Sterling Hayes who's go to Arsenal and Chelsea, because I don't think he thought they would be much of a threat with Chelsea. He was right. But I don't think he thought Arsenal would be there just yet threatening him, so he was happy letting him go. I can guarantee you right now, pep Guaileola would not let a Gabrielle's who's go to Liverpool No, no, sterling go back to Liverpool, or anything like that, because he would still see Liverpool as his main contender. He speaks so highly about us. He speaks so highly about Klopp. Klopp, as he said, is his great-sever rival. Klopp still got, i think, the most wins against him and the other manager still. I think. Espn put out a thing today saying that Klopp was the last manager to beat Bayern Munich to the Bundesliga title last year.

Speaker 2: Yeah, he was, he was.

Speaker 3: And was the last manager to beat Pep Guaileola to a Premier League title. Yeah, it just shows that His nemesis What we're up against What we're up against in these elite-level clubs. So, yeah, we'll be back. Don't worry guys, we will be back.

Speaker 1: I just think a wounded Liverpool. I would fear if I was any other team next season. We just need to get the bit between our teeth again. I think that we saw The positive. I think is also obviously the 7-0 is the tactical change bringing Trent double-pivot, but also the last 11 matches of the season showed me this squad are still good enough.

Speaker 2: Yeah, we needed a strong finish to the season And we got. I know we got a far far. It's out of time then. We actually couldn't have won that game near the end. But defensive, my only issue look, the midfield is huge. The midfield is the big issue And it looks like we will address it with the likes of a McAllister or maybe one or two more. But defensively as well, i mean we were Our character van Dijk's dropped off big time. Canate looks a real find. I mean Canate for me could be there for 10 years at the club. Gomez, is he the answer? I don't know. Matt Dipp's not getting any older either. You know what I mean. I think we need another centre half-lads. I really do Maybe cover for Trent at right back, never mind midfield. For midfield we definitely need players, but I think defensively we need to.

Speaker 3: Yeah, i think we need a right back full stop. I looked at Trent against Southampton. Trent's positioning for a couple of goals when he went into that right back position were all four. I Don't want to put him in that situation anymore. We've seen it now. I know people say still can he actually play me feel good. He's playing that false right back and coming into them positions. He says starting in positions His kids got so much quality, it's got so much quality.

Speaker 3: He actually defends bedroom. I don't know about you guys, but he actually defends bedroom midfield and he does it right back Because his awareness is more alerted into the mid, in the middle of midfield, because he knows everyone's around him And it's the action part of the, the game and his interceptions in midfield is what he's excellent at. He's interceptions in midfield are fantastic. That's what love's. He loves midfielders. They can set the ball high up the pitch and start that high transition of. You know, high counter pressing. Klopp's always said in press conferences Why Liverpool go about winning things is high counterpress. So that's never gonna change under Jurgen. You got to get players into that midfield that can play high counterpress. Now, unfortunately, jordan can't anymore because of his age and his legs. You know for beanie. Oh, worries me still. I watched him against Southampton the other day trying to just kick some of my. Now you just pass him and he couldn't even kick him. You know Saints are quite still right with Fabinho, so that's a worry. You know Milner's gone. You know you got Curtis Jones. There was a great squad player.

Speaker 3: Liverpool get their Smithfield situation right and get a right back in. I will just put Trent in midfield. But the problem is Trent in a 4-3-3. I'm not sure works Trent as part of the double pivot alongside a DM, where he's the, you got the aggressive DM and Then the controlling DM, like a Kimmich or by Munich. Trent can play that role perfectly. Everything in front of him, spraying the ball about good intercepting, playing him up right back next season. I still think he, lee is still issues in his game where He just don't suit him there right now defensively and I don't know if I want Trent to be a better defender at right back Or just a killer midfielder. To be fair, confused on this deal.

Speaker 1: But I think the good thing is they, you know You can't, just yeah, he can't. It all depends on you. So I mean, you know I'm not looking forward to this season as of yet, just because I'm getting over this season and Ask me a month, in a month or so, and, you know, a few fresh faces come through the door. I'll probably be, you know, ready for the season to start and I want to ask you to, and before we kind of wrap up soon, who's your player of the season?

Speaker 2: Alison Becker, no doubt about it I mean the goalkeepers is absolutely. He actually could have finished by me mid table. We're having to be very, you know, right decisions. The way he, the way he sets up play, sets up some of her attacks, of course, and actually got assists once or twice, that ball over the top real quick to Salah and stuff, and This is the overall play, the confidence he gives to back, for I mean, if you have Allison behind, you have Brazils number one. Of course, it just makes everything so much easier. And yeah, alison Straightaway, but I will say a big shout to Gack. I think he hit the ground willing and he's been a real big fine for us, a great sign. And but Alison Becker, all day long number one for me.

Speaker 3: Yeah, alison Becker, look, is the best goalkeeper, even called twa, i think a little best keepers in world football right now, and The Allison's calmness at the back is what makes him so good. I am never Worried with Allison about his one-on-ones as spectacular He's almost impossible to score against on the one-on-one. He's now got that, or are about him where strikers are a bit ush. You know it's a bit difficult to score against him. Much Michael used to have He's positioning. You never see Allison map to make a camera save, do you? because his position in is so good. He makes everything look comfortable. So I don't think Allison gets to the ratings he deserves because he makes everything look so easy.

Speaker 3: So you know because he does it so well. Yeah, yeah, he's a tremendous car. There's two others, most Salah. Now You take most Salah's goals out of Liverpool. I don't know if we score many at this moment in time, i really don't.

Speaker 3: And yes, moe has annoyed me this season where he goes some games and it frustrates. He's the most frustrating player. I love if that makes things, because I love the guy there for Tony ever leaving Liverpool football club. But my god, he can frustrate the head out of me in a 90-minute game, but then he can assist one of that side of his foot, like he did the other day, or he can score out of nowhere And that's why you play the guy, for that's why place is a tremendous. Never injured. He's never injured. What's? he got 40 GA this season. He's just and that's a bad year.

Speaker 3: And look, moe's about stats. His game is about stats. He's a. He's one of them wingers. Who is a winger that scores goals? He's about stats. So You know, without Moe, i wonder where we're about Allison and Moe this season. I do wonder where we'd be. But a Special mention of Cody Gakpo, who came in January, took up the game to use everything and then hit the ground running seven goals, playing force nine winning. The left winger Seems, sir, be a great guy. Got on with a team straight away. Understanding our clock wants him to play. I Think Cody Gakpo is gonna be hard to take away from that force nine role to start the next season.

Speaker 2: I don't think he's gonna be in the stand 11.

Speaker 3: Yeah, i don't. I don't see why he don't start the season with the airs and salaries inside of him. I think, and Jota and and Jota and Darwin have to fight for their place, in my opinion, which is good. That's what you want, that's great depth in the forward areas. Be a Cody Gakpo has been what five thirty seven million great business massive deal.

Speaker 1: Yeah, and Allison for me. And The decision IQ said Dave, if it wasn't for his Parallax, I mean, they look dead certain, didn't he? quite a lot of those goals, you know, even stopping Vardy. But yeah, with that, without him, and obviously Mo's goals as well, we'd be really low in the table, not as low as Everton. Oh, there's lucky Bastard. Yeah, jamie, you talk about like TV moments. You know, pickford does those The day. The saves. It's. Yeah, it's just come on, lads, you don't need to do that You. You just pick the ball up and he's got a. You know, do all that. I can't stand them. I wish they would have gone.

Speaker 3: Remstell, remstell does his clothes only he does him like when a Shot comes straight at Ramstell for some reason, he dives and to make it look better. It was the one where you remember the one with Allison where?

Speaker 2: Allison? the Derby, the Mersey. So he was wasting time all the time And pick for captain the ball. He dove on the ball and hold it waste seconds and seconds. Then Allison did it fell on the ground. That was a classic moment.

Speaker 1: Yeah, that's the best. Well, Ramstell wasn't laughing at the end of the season, so that's good. But, lads, has been an absolute pleasure and glad I've finally got you on and please go, and I'm I'm not just talking crap, i, i watch these two constantly, daily, especially Jamie He's. He's got loads of content, loads of discussions on on Jamie's, on Jamie's channels some good, some bad, not not from Jamie, but just from you know, liverpool supporters and some supporters. It just want to cause some aggro as well. But please go to the out. Jamie Phillips football chats on YouTube and then for Dave, dave LFC chats on YouTube as well. Fellas, um, really appreciate it for me. Um Upcoming. I've got a story episode coming out, i think Friday, with Ray Halton and Liverpool and irish legends.

Speaker 2: And gosh. Yeah, it's actually meant to me. Right out last Friday He was in Dublin. Yeah, I take it, and I couldn't go right out.

Speaker 3: Ray Hattons, a great guy. I've spoke to him once before. He's actually a great guy.

Speaker 2: He was an underrated story killer.

Speaker 3: He was player. Some player he was 8889, same in beam on the right wing. Yeah, great It'll play. He's a good storyteller as well.

Speaker 2: I like Ray, i know when he's going to win her against England first.

Speaker 1: Exactly, we have a nice, we have a nice chat about that as well.

Speaker 3: What might be irish, by the way, if?

Speaker 2: it was his grandparents, yeah, grandparents. Yeah, because I was a grandparent rule.

Speaker 1: I told him, like you know, scottish by birth, irish by.

Speaker 2: Aldridge as well.

Speaker 1: Yeah, you know it's weird too is like both Aldo and Halton played for Oxford United. Yeah, I feel like the same time. Yeah, just talk with him, just just to be like you know. You look across the park and you got Barnsey on the left, you're on the right, you got wheeling and McMahon in the middle, you know.

Speaker 3: But my one's my midfield either way as well, so that's my midfield either. When I did Sunday league as a little nipper I played like a sleep McMahon. So I just double footed everyone. I double footed everyone. Gave little kids digs in the ribs.

Speaker 1: That's what. That's what we I think we're missing as well, actually in this team is a hard. I thought, he knew was going to be the hard man, and you know to pointy was, but he's I. I still think he has a part to play for Liverpool, but we just need somebody, just to you know.

Speaker 2: Even Robertson's niggle went this season, didn't he, his niggle?

Speaker 3: went where he was, you know, and he's the best at it, he's the best at it.

Speaker 2: It went, though He lasted this year, didn't he Not as much?

Speaker 3: I think they all lost this year to me. I think they all lost this year. To be fair, though, yeah.

Speaker 2: Let's hope they find it for next season, lads, let's hope they find it.

Speaker 1: It'll be back, i'm sure I'm praying, yeah.

Speaker 3: I think it's close. Yeah, exactly, it'll be back. They'll be back on the United States in the summer, don't worry, it'll be all right.

Speaker 1: Well, again, thanks there, thanks for everyone listening when this goes out. And again, please like and subscribe to these lads. And again, great content. I love it and so should you, so I will see you next time.

Speaker 2: Oh, oh, oh.