The Game Football Podcast

Tom Clarke is joined by Gregor Robertson, Tom Allnutt and Hamzah Khalique-Loonat.

They look at a lamentable game at Anfield, a good result for Utd, a reality check for Liverpool?

Arsenal seems to be the only team playing with control, Odegaard is on form and Rice remains imperious. Will it be enough to get them to the title?

Aston Villa ground out a win at a tough place to go, but is their keeper the dogs bo**ocks or a sh**house?

Lower down the table Everton are on a fantastic run as Dych once again shows his quality - identity, endeavour effectiveness. Forest by contrast look a little lost.

 **Few technical issues today, sorry. They'll be fixed for Thurs.

Timeline:

Liverpool v Man Utd

2’ a game to forget

4’ Consistent with where United are at, stutter, lack of creativity but a valuable well earned point. Reflective of a changed midfield that is energetic and hard working. Better defensive organisation.

5’ Kobbie Mainoo, looks exciting, promising but will the expectations mount?

6’ lack of creativity and width from Liverpool. 34 shots, but no real danger. Some poor decisions.

7’ was this a surprise for Liverpool. They have been lucky in recent games and looked listless at home against Man Utd. Is this the reality dawning?

8’ No goals for Nunez in 9 games. Diaz not the same since the incident with his father.

9’ But all teams have looked patchy and inconsistent. The only team looking to have control are Arsenal. 

Arsenal, City and Villa

11’ The team look to have control. Their stats are on the up while City and Liverpool are dropping.

13’ Jorginho off the pitch providing unity.

14’ Martin Odegaard has come into form. Past 6 matches,

15’ Declan Rice covering cast areas for Arsenal, gave Odegaard freedom to create. Rice absolutely key to that.

17’ Arsenal very good front to back, After a rough spell now well oiled, in defence and attack. Defences wins titles.

20’ Arsenal seem to have tunnel vision and appear ready to be champions. Predictable, not exciting, but regular, winning controlled.

22’ Ben Mee’s sending off changed the game. But thereafter Villa went for the win, not the draw.

23’ A gritty win at a place no one likes to go to. Despite chaos Villa got the three points.

24’ VAR inconsistent again. Ben ?Mee should have had a penalty.

25’ Why are Villa doing well, the players of the manager? Both.

27’ Emery has improved Watkins, Kamara is back from injury. Emery has brought intensity and focus.

30’ Nice family man outside of football. But on the pitch stretches ever opportunity to his advantage. Believes he is the best in the world and wants to live up to that.

31’ His antics got his own player sent off. 

West Ham v Wolves

35’ Paqueta, Alvarez Bowen and Kudos. Fabulous four. Their creativity won West Ham the game.

36’ Free flowing forward line could be the future, but Moyes prefers stable reliable, Antonio. Can he squeeze both in?

37’ Conflict still at heart of West Ham. How are they laying, are they committed to Moyes?

41’ Will Moyes still be manager next season? 

Everton, Forest and Burnley

46’ What a run for Everton. Classic Sean Dyche, getting best out of players. Finding a system that suits the players and drilling them.

47’ Maximising everything at his disposal.

48’ Burnley, endeavour, quality but soft centre. Everton ruthless.

49’ Kompany not changing his methods, sticking to his principles.

50’ Everton play effective football. Its refreshing as it is different to others.

53’ Forest are on a bad run, but look a little lost.