Salah's Summer Exit

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0:24Gab Marcotti:Welcome to the latest edition of ESPN FC. I'm Dan Thomas. Look at this motley crew. Shaq Aislop is here, Greg Bertley and Stevie's got a chair with wheels. It's all go. Look at his legs. Look at his legs. I need brakes. He's like this. Oh man, it is International Week but of course the big story over the last 24 hours is the fact that Mo Salah has announced he'll be leaving Liverpool at the end of the season. We discussed it of course as breaking news yesterday. Stevie, you weren't here. You played for Liverpool. Yeah. What was your reaction? I really wasn't surprised. Right. I figured they was going to be going at the end of this season considering what's happened throughout the season Why are you sniggering that?

1:01Gab Marcotti:Because I think you're holding on I am holding on I'm just going to sit and stare at you all show I'm not surprised I think it's going to be good for everybody I thought Liverpool might get a transfer fee at the end of this season if he went in the summer but the fact that they've come to the agreement everybody's happy Liverpool get what? What is he making? 25 mil a year? something like that they get that off the wages and and then we don't have to we don't have to sit and go through the same thing for the rest of the season because all season it feels like what we've been talking about what's happened to Salah what's going to happen to him is he going to play is he going to be on the bench so I think I think all of those questions are probably just kind of going to go away now and he can just try and do what he can between now and the end of the season to help the club seven games to go in the Premier League Champions League tie against PSG Manchester City in the FA Cup does this help or hinder any of those games?

2:00Gab Marcotti:I don't think it changes anything I think there's no question that there's probably a little bit of pressure going out of him the fact that he knows what's going to happen he'll know where he's going he'll have a good idea of what's happening so he can kind of play free the problem is for him to get back to what he was from where he is now seems nigh on impossible and it's just a question of hopefully he can contribute between now and the end of the season with all of those games Stevie, what do you think about does this put a wee bit more pressure on Arne Slott because we were talking about this yesterday he wanted to go out most of that is in a bit of a victory lap playing every game and playing well but there's no guarantee he's going to play and Arne Slott's job is under scrutiny the top five is in jeopardy the PSG game looks like a long shot at the moment so where's the sentiment and the balance in this?

2:59Gab Marcotti:Well there shouldn't be any sentiment other than the last game at Anfield maybe but I actually don't think this changes anything in terms of Arnie Slott at the end of the day whether Mo Salah was going or staying or what was happening he's got to put a team on the field for the next game never mind looking the Champions League or FA Cup, it's the next, the only thing Andy Slott has to do is try and win the next game and try and do it in some sort of style or comfort. So, I really don't... That means benching Salah. That means benching Salah. That means benching Salah. I think the only time the sentiment comes in is if things are settled at the end of the year, they know exactly where they are, whether it's Champions League or not, and he gets to say goodbye because a guy who has absolutely joined the immortal names that have played and become icons at Liverpool.

3:51Gab Marcotti:He's joined that list and so he deserves that. But that should be the only time the sentiment comes in, that he gets to play the last game at Anfield. The inevitable question then follows, where is he on that list?

4:04Gab Marcotti:You know, it's look, it's Dalgleish, Rush, Gerrard. I think that's your top three. I think after that you're looking at Salah. John Barnes.

4:21Gab Marcotti:Everybody has a different take on what they prefer. But I think... I think the three I mentioned there are the top three. Right. Kevin Keegan, no? No. No, I think... Well, yeah, Kevin Keegan obviously is an icon of the club, but I think Mo Salah goes ahead of Kevin Keegan. So right now, off the top of my head, I'd probably... Is there an argument to say because of Silverware, he should be ahead of Gerrard? No, I think the reason Gerrard's ahead of him is because he carried the... He totally... I mean, you could make an argument that Mo Salah's goals carry Liverpool, but at the end of the day, Mo Salah was playing in a way better Liverpool team than Steven Gerrard ever played in and took them to a Champions League final and won it for them.

5:09Gab Marcotti:So, yeah, I think he's behind those three and then it becomes, is it Mo Salah or John Barnes for me? Right. Augie's written an article over on the website, Shaka. Yeah. He's the best Premier League player ever. Mo Salah? Mm-hmm. I'm not sure I'd agree with that. Listen, while we're talking Premier League, names like Thierry Henry, Alan Shearer immediately come to mind. Just in terms of, well, Alan Shearer, just pure goal scoring. Thierry Henry in how he dictated and changed games. while Mo Salah maybe was a combination of the two. As an individual, I would have preferred not seeing Terry Henry and Alan Shearer more so than Mo Salah.

5:55So you have him third? I'm not going to go through all the Premier League players, Dan. I'm just saying he's not first. Just because you're on with him. Don't be so aggressive.

6:07Here's why lists like this are relatively pointless. we're talking about the best Premier League players football started in 1992 when Sky started the Premier League Stevie's era before that in the 80s and then before that in the 70s was loaded with real quality players but when you look at that list there it's basically just pointing out goal scorers so when you're talking about best Premier League players if you want to take it from sort of 92 onwards when the Premier League evolved into how it is today, then you have to look at people in the midfield and defenders as well, and goalkeepers. You're talking about players, so we're not just talking about people who have scored goals, because that's the position they play in, and that's their job.

6:53When you look at other players that have played, some of the defenders that have played, some of the centre-halves from his year... Yeah, but that's not... Wait, wait, wait. Wait, wait.

7:03Gab Marcotti:When you think of awards and who gets paid the most, it's the people who score the goals. It doesn't mean it. It's just they are the most important part of a team. To your question, maybe Augie's article, Steve doesn't even have him as the best Premier League Liverpool player. So how can he be the best player in the league? That's Steve's opinion, isn't it? But I'm agreeing with Steve fully. I'm agreeing with Steve fully. This is very much Ballon d 'Or-esque. It's generally just the guy who's getting all the glitter and the glamour and the goals. but that's what you want to do, fine. That's a very simplistic way of doing it.

7:42But there are other... Who are the best players that we talk about ever? Yeah, but not Maradona, LA. If he's not the best Liverpool player.

7:52Gab Marcotti:There was players that scored more goals than Maradona in the Italian league. I'm not talking about the amount of goals. I'm talking about greatest ever. And we're not basically... Otherwise, just give it to the top goalscorer each time. But the fact is, my point is, if he's not the best Liverpool player of the Premier League era, how can we honestly be having a debate? That's only Steve's opinion isn't sorted. It's all debate, but then it's all debate. I don't think he is. You're throwing Steven Gerrard, you're throwing the likes of Frank Lampard. I mentioned Sheeran and Thierry Henry. The short answer to your question is, no, I don't think he's the best Premier League player ever.

8:33There's a lot of games you've watched Mo Salah, and he's proof of this. And we talked about this yesterday. The numbers for a wide player are incredible. But there's a lot of games Mo Salah, for 80 minutes, was borderline unwatchable because he was frustrating. But then in a 10-minute spell or whatever it was, he scored two absolutely wonder goals. And that stole the headlines of the game. And everybody forgot the tripping over the ball, the bad touches, the bad passes. I'm not taking anything away from what he did. And listen, it's all about end product. It's all about, if you're a front man, scoring goals and assisting.

9:13But I think if you look at consistency of performance, rather than just numbers, you could argue there have been better quality players in the Premier League. Anyway.

9:26Gab Marcotti:As I mentioned, Liverpool are still in three competitions. One, of course, is the FA Cup. That is live on ESPN Plus when we come back from the international break. Liverpool against Manchester City. That game early start for Stevie. ESPN Plus, 7.15 a.m.

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10:57Gab Marcotti:My day kicks off with a refreshing Celsius energy drink, then straight to the gym. Pre-K pickup, back home to meal prep. Time for my fire station shift. One more Celsius, gotta keep the lights on. When the three alarm hits, I'm ready. Celsius. Live, fit, go. Grab a cold, refreshing Celsius at your local retailer or locate now at Celsius.com.

11:23Gab Marcotti:So we see those big games tomorrow in World Cup qualifying. Remember, these are one leg, one-off ties, and then the finals take place this weekend as we realise who will be in those remaining spots in the World Cup. You look at those teams, and of course, there's one that stands out, who you feel shouldn't be there. But of course, history has told us that this is the standard that they're at in the moment as we welcome in Gabarkotti. it is with us gab italy how are you feeling i'm feeling fully confident yes and fully rational about this number 12 ranked number 12 in the world i think um no of course not i i am i'm nervous i'm a wreck i cannot deal with the humiliation i made that stupid joke oh yeah let somebody else win it since we've got four of these at home And these little piddly nations like England have won in dubious circumstances.

12:19And France only has a couple. Ha, ha, ha. Yeah, it's not funny anymore. This is really not funny anymore. Italy are playing Northern Ireland, a team that because of injuries, now Ballard is out as well, as well as Bradley. I make it they're going to have one Premier League player in their starting 11, Trey Hume. One. that means that Italy will likely have three Premier League players at the starting level not that it's a benchmark for anything it just means there really are no excuses here get this done and then you can go and ask me the same question ahead of the final if Italy get through when they're going to face Wales or Bosnia what's the feeling like in it is it the same as you gab is it all doom and gloom no it's it's confidence you know we have to get this done i think look italy have lost i've been knocked out of playoffs and in different ways right in 2018 the team was not that good and played badly against sweden in 2022 um the team was in a very difficult group against spain we're the best team in the world at the time played macedonia at home and somehow screwed it up and gave up a goal in like the last minute.

13:37I don't even want to remember that. This time around, you play Norway, only one qualifies directly, you screw the pooch against Norway, and then all of a sudden you're in this position. That's fine. Get yourself out of it. I think that is the general attitude out there. You don't want to be arrogant about it, but you also know it's not an insurmountable task and there's something really, really messed up with you if you don't bring this home. Enough of this.

14:10Gab Marcotti:Let's take a look at some of the other paths, shall we, Gav? Starting off with Path C to take us through what you expect there. Just a reminder of who is in Path C. Do we have that? There it is. Slovakia against Kosovo, Turkey against Romania. Yes, I find this interesting because there is some parallel there between Turkey and Italy. In the sense that Turkey should have the easier time of it. They probably have the better players. They definitely have the better players than Romania. But they're also prone to stumbling and screwing things up when it matters. I don't think they will. I think they're going through.

14:47And I think they'll be favourites most likely against Slovakia on paper. Despite the fact that Slovakia surprised everybody last time around. The Euros and this and that. assuming they get past Kosovo which is a big assumption by the way because it is a one-off game I see Turkey as pretty solid favourites there.

15:08Gab Marcotti:How are the Irish going to fare, Gav? The who? Sorry? The Irish who are playing Italy or the other Irish? The Irish facing Czechia

15:23I mean, again I think Czech Republic probably top to bottom, better players. Checkers, there's been a lot of turmoil in their qualifying, but you look at the individuals that they can call on and they're a level above. And again, you put all your eggs in one basket, 90 minutes, anything can happen. We see this week in, week out in every major European league. But yeah, I think it's uphill definitely for the Republic of Ireland.

15:53Gab Marcotti:Meanwhile, of course, elsewhere All eyes are on Mexico for the intercontinental qualifiers. Shaka, we're going to you because, of course, all eyes in the Caribbean is on Jamaica. Yeah, Jamaica come against New Caledonia, who qualify out of Oceania, one of the lower-ranked teams in the intercontinental playoffs. Jamaica should make easy work of New Caledonia. I say should make easy work because they should have made easy work of their automatic qualifying. That's all the end of Steve McLaren. Rudolph Speed, a local Jamaican, is taking charge. And fancy their chances. Certainly against New Caledonia.

16:26No, against the Democratic Republic of Congo. That's a much bigger ask. But as far as this first step goes, it would be a big, big surprise and, dare I say, monumental disappointment if Jamaica don't get past New Caledonia.

16:41Gab Marcotti:Of course. That is where the eyes are in Mexico. Meanwhile, a number of friendlies are going on on Thursday as well, which includes Brazil against France. And this will be the shortest commute you've ever had, Shaka. Yeah. Working for ESPN. Yeah. About 45 minutes to Foxborough to see that one. I mean, what a game that would be. Both of them amongst the favourites to win the World Cup. A little bit of a dry run with this one. I know it's a friendly, but I think this close to the World Cup. Both sets of managers are starting to fine-tune their squads, the expectations. It'll be a great game to watch.

17:19You'll probably drive here first, won't you? Right. Drop your car off. I mean, if you don't have your five-hour commute a day

17:30Gab Marcotti:I need my me time That game is live on ESPN2, by the way Brazil taking on France, so much going on Gab, thank you very much, we'll say goodbye to Gab He was supposed to be on earlier in the show Technical difficulties, I promise We're not just keeping it short and sharp with him Brazil against France then, tomorrow 4pm Eastern, coverage starts at 3.30 on ESPNU Shaq Ahir Slop, pitch side, ladies and gentlemen. And they'll, of course, be discussing that on a, it's going to be a busy edition of Football America, Shaq. 8.30 Eastern, that is live on Thursday.

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19:41Gab Marcotti:We should have extra time. Just push him off. Just push him off these days. The big moment today is that Stevie's got... Normally our chairs don't have wheels, Stevie does. He's just taking for a ride around. Nearly run into one of the cameras. It's the most exercise Craig's done for a long time. Oh, wow. Pecking like a budgie over there. He's doing what, sorry? He's pecking like a budgie. Pecking like a budgie. Pecking like a budgie. Yeah. It must be Scott, he's done again. I've never heard that in my life. No, no. Because pecking like a budgie. It's just a shame isn't it? It must be Scott, it must be a surprise thing.

20:16Gab Marcotti:It must be. Start, bench or drop? Stevie? Mo Salah, Iron Robin, Gareth Bale? That's an easy one. At the best? Not now. Yeah, now I know. Let's go for no.

20:35I'll have Robin now. um he knows he hasn't got a five-hour journey tomorrow he's annoyed i'd probably go bale