The Game Football Podcast

City dropped points, Liverpool picked up more injuries and Arsenal are eleven nil up from their last two games. So where does that leave the title race?

Which players are irreplaceable on a title run in?

Crystal Palace look set to make a managerial change, but how have they handled it, with Roy Hodgson still unwell and Oliver Glasner seemingly lined up to replace him.

Who is best placed to be Harry Kane’s understudy? Gregor Robertson thinks Ollie Watkins is the complete striker. Alyson Rudd thinks Ivan Tony has international class.

Rasmus Hojlund has turned a corner and is now the youngster player to score in six consecutive premier league games, will it be enough to drag Man Utd into the top four…

Timeline:

Title race

2’ Across two games Chelsea were really good. Chilwell handled Foden well.

3’ Best game Disasi has had in a Chelsea shirt.

4’ Haaland wont’ have many games like that.

5’ Can’t believe how nice you’re being to Chelsea. They were defensive smart performance from Chelsea

8’ city’s record against top 6 is a concern. They’re third, behind Arsenal and Chelsea.

Liverpool

9’ Virgil Van Dyke, a man with presence. Key to being clam is enjoying the football.

11’ having an amazing season 

Arsenal

15’ Forward line has grown in confidence as the goals have come.

16’ Liverpool victory was key.

18’ Burnley and West Ham abysmal. So 11-0 for arsenal has context.

19’ all done without Zinchenko and Jesus. 

Injuries

21’ could have a key part in title race. Each of the big three have key players- Van Dyke, Stones, Rodri, Saliba…will injuries affect the outcome.

22’ Liverpool have youngster on the side lines already bedded in who can step in.

Roy Hodgson

23’ Awful position to have a manager facing the sack whilst also ill in hospital.

25’ when Hodgson collapsed he still hadn’t been told, but it is an open secret that Glasner is going to get the job.

28’ Roy shouldn’t be in a position of being angry with the club going behind his back. 29’ they way they are handling this is terrible. And it isn’t the first time.

Watkins or Tony

31’ Masterclass from Watkins at the weekend

32’ His importance to Villa is immense, their top four challenge rests on his shoulders.

33’ He is profile similar to Kane.

36’ His stats put him in elite company.

37’ Watkins is always involved, even if he isn’t flashy. His skill set is very broad.

40’ Ivan Tony is very unselfish. He has improved Maupay enormously. Makes unselfish runs and links up others players. Very good intuition. He has international class.

43’ Kane’s understudy…Watkins for Gregor. Wide skill set. But Alyson thinks Tony, he has more arrogance and would step up to international football. Watkins is developing that arrogance.

Man Utd and Rasmus Hojlund  

47’ Youngest player to score in 6 premier league games on the spin.

48’ Led the line brilliantly, looked confident, strong and with a strikers nose.

51’ Without his goals they had no chance of top four. Now…it looks possible, but not yet likely.

Bad tackles

53’ This was Sheff United’s chance to create hope of safety. Holgate blew it inside 20 minutes.

56’ Tough times for Chris Wilder. He had a big win at Luton and they haven’t backed it up. So momentum has been lost.