Liverpool & Arsenal start with a win & free scoring Chelsea - 5 Live Reaction

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1:04This is the Football Daily Podcast with Kelly Summers. So Liverpool came from behind to open their Champions League campaign with a 2-1 win over Atletico Madrid, whilst Arsenal won 1-0 in Naples against Napoli. With me now is the former Liverpool midfielder Charlie Adam, as well as Alistair Roos-Bull and Paul Robinson, who were at Anfield after watching Liverpool's opening Champions League game against Atletico Madrid. And Ali, I think it's safe to say it was a hard-fought win for Andoni Iriola's team, but they did what they needed to do. Exactly right, yeah. Exactly what Andoni Iriola would have wanted in his first Champions League game.

1:41Hard-fought win, a good win against a highly respected opponent too. It didn't all go according to plan you wouldn't expect it to. Liverpool went behind in the 17th minute of the game. Their defence was cut open by Julian Alvarez's pass, which played in Marcus Urente, and he was never going to miss, given his remarkable scoring record at Anfield. That is a fifth goal in just three appearances here for him, and it meant that Liverpool had work to do. But you always felt right from the start of the game the chances were going to come. Rio Ungamoa and Bradley Barkela both offered a real threat from the flanks, although it was actually Ronald Araujo's clever flick just before half-time that teed up Dominic Soverslai for the equaliser.

2:18And then I thought Liverpool really started the second half with intent, and the winner came not long after the restart from Alexis McAllister. A thumping finish with his left foot and a good old thump of the Liverpool badge on his shirt too as if to demonstrate his commitment to the cause. The Liverpool players at the moment just going through the warm-down routine with dire straits blasting away in the background. I think the one concern, slight, slight blot on the landscape, Kelly, we'll have to see what Andoni Uriola says. Was Bradley Barkler going down off the ball in the second half and having to come off with a problem that seemed to be troubling him somewhat.

2:51But in terms of the performance and the result, perfect start to the Champions League. We spoke about it pre-match. All of the headlines coming into today were written by himself, Alexis McAllister, saying how sad he was not to be offered a new contract by Liverpool in the summer. And Paul Robinson, you said beforehand you have to let your football do the talking. I mean, it was written in the stars, wasn't it, that he was going to score tonight? Well, it was all about him coming into the game, wasn't it, after what he said in the press conference about seeing his two teammates get new contracts and he felt that he wanted a new contract and deserved a new contract when actually he's still got two years left on his contract which I found quite strange because it's not the type of thing you do and you don't openly ask for a new contract.

3:32You let your football do the talking. If you've got two years left on your contract, you go out there, you play better than you did last season because he didn't play to the level tonight that he didn't hit that level what he got tonight last season. I thought he was poor at times last season. He had a very indifferent season. For me, he hadn't earned a new contract, so you don't go asking for one, but you put in a performance on the field. You score goals. You're a man of the match. You put in a performance that enhances your team and is you as a player. And he did that tonight. He got himself booked early.

4:00You could see that he was up for the game. He put himself about. He had a good engine tonight. And he took his goal really, really well. And as you say, it was always going to be something about McAllister tonight, and it was all positive for him. And that's exactly how you go about earning a new contract. Yeah, we should say good evening to Charlie Adam. the first time we've heard from you. What have you made of the whole situation and, most importantly, McAllister's response on the pitch tonight? I do. I get what Paul's saying. Two years new contract. These clubs now don't allow their players to go beyond that sort of two-year contract.

4:31But you have to earn the right. I think his performances last year were not to the level of what we'd expect from Alexis McAllister. I think he looks a lot fresher coming off the back of the World Cup. he obviously had a good break and I just felt at the back end of last season I thought he was preparing for the World Cup and his performances took a dip and what a way to go and back up the statement that you made yesterday in the press conference it was a lovely strike edge of the box, left foot, brilliant technique and yeah, it was a brilliant win for Liverpool in terms of getting the Champions League at home to Adelaide to Madrid I love this new format I think it's brilliant that we're getting on And, you know, early in the Champions League campaign, first game, we're getting these big games.

5:19And, you know, it sets it well and it gives teams a good opportunity to have a look at who they feel could be around in the latter stages as well. But it was a good win for Liverpool. And the coach will be delighted with that in terms of his first Champions League game as well. Yeah, off to a winning start in the Champions League for Andonea Ola after they got that first league win against Ipswich on Friday night. Dominic Saboslai has been a man very much informally for Liverpool for quite some time. He got the equaliser tonight and it does look like if Liverpool are going to tick, they need him to tick.

5:52He's always at the centre of it. Yeah, certainly in the first half after they'd gone behind, he was getting on the ball and making things happen. And he's such a talented footballer, obviously you've got to be to get into this Liverpool first team. But I think he can score all sorts of different goals. We think particularly, don't we, of the dead ball striking and the free kicks and the long range hits. But I actually thought that finish tonight was really clever because reacted well to the Araujo flick that ended up sort of underneath his feet. He just gently touched it with the left foot and then, you know, didn't try and hit it too hard.

6:24Just sort of swept it beyond Oblak, who didn't have time to react and found the bottom corner. And yeah, you're right, Kelly. He's been putting those performances in for Liverpool for quite a while now. He is going to be a key man this season. He's such an asset when he's playing in midfield. I mean, he spent a lot of time last season playing at right back for whatever reason. Liverpool had a problem in that area and he was utilised as a right back. But you get so much out of Sir Bozlight when he's playing in the centre of the park. He's got a great engine. He gets up and down. He reads the game so well.

6:53He started the game on the front foot and he really set the tempo right from kick-off. You know, he won the ball back within the first 10 seconds and set Liverpool off on the attack. When we talk about turning defence into attack and the ball moving up the field, he does that extremely quickly. He's extremely clever in his thinking and he's very bright. He either travels with the ball forward or he plays the right pass forward. He's a big asset to Liverpool operating higher up the field, in my opinion. Yeah, he has just spoken to our TV colleagues as well, saying these nights are always special.

7:22After a setback, we came in good game, happy for the result and my goal. And he said about if I just hope we keep on going and we do something special this season, we can achieve everything we want. So we have to work hard for it. And let's hope for the best. Lots of positives for Liverpool then, but one, as Ali mentioned before, one slight negative was Bradley Barcola. Making his first start for Liverpool this evening had opportunities, looked bright in periods, but, Charlie, he did go off injured. That is the last thing that Andoni Arreola will have wanted when they spent so big on him this summer.

7:53We don't, of course, at this stage know the severity of that injury. No, but again, ultimately, you've got to think about it. He's not really had a proper pre-season, and it might have just been a little bit of a precaution there as well. and we'll have to look at that but the moments he did have and the quality he showed he probably could have done when he gets slipped through 1v1 with a goalkeeper he probably should at least think he's got to score but what he is showing is that he's got real speed at the top end of the pitch I think just listening to the radio as I was coming back earlier was that I think he's already clocked the highest speed in the Premier League this year in his first game I think it was against Ipswich so we know what he's going to give he's going to give them that outlet but he's a different type to Salah.

8:38He's not there to replace Salah. People think he is. He's not. Most Salahs are one of the greatest players to ever play for Liverpool. It's going to take him time to adapt and adjust to the intensity of the Premier League, but he's a special player that Liverpool believe can be the difference maker in his own right. Well, and Dona Iriolo has been giving an update on Bradley Barkola. Here's what he had to say. He's just cramped. There's no injury. with Bradley's about building his physical condition. We don't really know, we didn't know until now probably, how much he can play, because he hasn't had any minutes in precision for PSG.

9:19He played 30 the other day. Today we had some question marks, how many minutes he can give us, and probably now we know. And I'm very happy because also he has had two very clear chances against the keeper. He hasn't scored, but I want him there. there is where he has to make the difference arriving to those spots those positions and I'm very happy because in I don't know how many minutes he's played two times against the keeper it's a good sign with Bradley Paul you said tonight about the fact that Liverpool are so good going forward how do you see that attack working when it's at its best and does it very much look like an Andoni Irola team because I know Bournemouth and Liverpool are very different clubs, very different players but you can see the identity can't you the way he likes to play?

10:04You can see that he wants his team always forward thinking. Whenever they turn over possession, he doesn't want them passing backwards and sideways. And I think Liverpool fell into that trap a lot last season. Androana Slott, there was a lot of recycling of the ball, keeping possession. The wide players would come inside and then they'd play the ball into midfield and they'd keep possession and they'd be patient. They wouldn't be always on the front foot. Whereas tonight we saw two wingers. Ingemoa, I mean, he's still only 18 years of age. He really, really impressed me tonight. He was the biggest attacking threat.

10:30He was almost like an old-fashioned winger. he just he knew that he had the beating of the fullback Marcos Llorente he'd push the ball around him and just take him on not often do we see the wingers just running around the outside of the fullback and putting the delivery into the box and in Ingemoa and Barcola they had that tonight Liverpool they had two wingers that would run past the fullbacks and it's going to be different because Cody Gakpo comes back into the equation he wasn't in the starting 11 tonight he wasn't in the in the squad at all so it'll be interesting to see what Areola says about Gakpo but he's a very different type of winger he's a winger that will come inside he'll try and be more creativity in that way.

11:03And Florian Wurtz is growing into his role as well. So there's a very different Liverpool when you've got the likes of Ingemoa, Frimpong, Barcola, Munoz. They're different wingers, but then there's a different dimension when Gakpo plays as well. I think he's got a lot of quality at his disposal. It's just how he deploys them and it worked what he chose tonight. Charlie, what about in defence? Is there a few things for your own? It's just exactly what I was coming on to kill. I think at times Liverpool are still open still open to huge transition moments. When the turnover is there, I thought at times the space is too big.

11:37Backline, midfield and forward is just not really connected at the moment. I just think at times when they beat that first press, all of a sudden they're in the backline and that's where the goal comes from. It's a good movement from Llorente, but it's a great pass from Alvarez. But again, Kirke is actually trying to play offside. He's the last guy. He sees all the way along the line. He sees the movement. He actually has to go with the runner for me. You can't step up because he's coming off the blind side. So I still think that's a worry for Liverpool, getting the balance between attacking and being aggressive, but also defensively, the structure needs to improve as well.

12:18Because if they don't, they'll concede a lot of goals in transition like they did last year. They did get a lot better in that second half, though, Ali, didn't they? I think it was just three shots Atletico had in the second 45. Yeah, yeah, it felt as soon as, well, right from the start of the second half, you know, Liverpool came out, as I said, with a real intent, got themselves in front. And from that point, although the lead was only a goal and obviously inside the stadium, you could feel that sort of desire just to make it a two-goal cushion that actually the threat had diminished really from Atletico in the second half.

12:51And Liverpool just had to make sure they sort of concentrated all the way, switched on. and got themselves across the line. And we've got to remember as well, it's Andoni Iriola. I know he's obviously come in in the summer, but this is only a fourth competitive game in charge for him. So in terms of getting the team to understand exactly what he wants from them, every single game they're learning more and more. That's another big tick in the box tonight. And that's, you know, it's a good win. And in the end, second half cruised it. And we can now hear from the Liverpool boss, Andoni Iriola. Today I have to blame myself a little bit for the start of the game.

13:29I think Atletico has used a structure that they haven't used before this season and it has cost us a little bit to match properly. I think until we conceded the goal and we've had a couple of minutes where we've adjusted things and we've matched much better and it was the moment where we've started playing better. Obviously after half-time you have more time, everything was better set and in the second half I think we were the best team. I think the players have shown big character and also the crowd has helped us massively in the second half. In this kind of nights you are there doing your job but you also can enjoy it.

14:12This is the interesting part. I think I have to take the blame from the beginning because they surprised me a little bit tactically. So that's maybe a role explaining a little bit, Paul, as to why maybe they struggled a little bit in the first half. I think they were quite fluid in the way that they played Atletico Madrid. I think they started with a flat back four from the kickoff and then the two full backs or wing backs at times, Llorente, he was the one that got the goal and they were causing the overload in midfield. And that's maybe where Liverpool struggled at times because Liverpool played with Ungamboa and Barcola, the two out-and-out wide players and they were playing higher up the field.

14:44So the midfield was getting slightly overloaded with just McAllister and Suboslay in there with Atletico Madrid trying to flood that area of the pitch. But he worked it out tactically. I mean, that's what the manager's there for. I mean, he didn't make too many obvious changes. And I just thought it was a game that they controlled from the start, really. Even though they went the goal down, they were always in control of this game and it never looked like a game that was going to escape them. And they weren't 2-1 up and their goal didn't come under any threat. and I think the only in-game question that I would pose towards Andoni Uriola is why would you take Ngomorov?

15:17I know that he had to take Barcala off because it looked like he pulled his left calf but they were getting the most joy down that left-hand side and Ngomorov was at the heart of that. When he made the two substitutions, they did sit deeper with Frimpong and Munoz. They were deeper line midfielders. Granted, it was later in the game and Atletico were trying to get something out of the game but no, I think he's worked that out tonight and he's going to have to do more of that in the Champions League.

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17:25Let's cross to Italy, where Arsenal were made to work for their win, beating Napoli by a goal to nil. Maz Faruqi was watching this one. Well, Moreno, Saka, Hincapie and Madweke in particular will offer their captain a very worn handshake tonight, I think, and perhaps a cold drink because of the chances that they miss. Big, big opportunities. They would have put Arsenal in a very comfortable leading position against Napoli. They could have easily won this match, even 4-0. Instead, the frustrations from the Premier League side grew throughout the second half before that Martin Erdegaard goal in the 75th minute.

17:58A lovely strike and one that he probably put an extra bit of wallop into given how annoyed he would have been at how this match was playing out at that point. Victor Jokerez started up front for Arsenal tonight as well. And I don't think his performance will have convinced many that he should be starting ahead of Kai Havertz at the moment. Just to underline Arsenal's dominance in creating chances in Naples tonight. They had an XG of over four in this match, but they won it in the end by that single goal. Napoli nil, Arsenal won it finished. Let's hear the thoughts of the Arsenal manager, Mikel Arteta.

18:28Very, very happy. The way we attacked the game from the very first minute. The way we competed, the clarity that we had, how we had to attack them, how we had to disorganise them, the purpose, the quality, the amount of chances that we generated. For sure, the scoreline has to reflect a very different result. We will get there, because if we had to be more precise, it should have been much bigger. But to do what we've done today in this stadium against this opponent is remarkable from the team. We've spoken a lot about Martin this season because he's given us a lot of reasons to talk about him.

19:03He created so much, but in the end it felt like he almost took the game by the scruff of the neck himself to win it for you. Just some words on how impressed you are with him. What we need to play is with that mindset to decide again and to play with that personality that an action might not happen, it's the next one, the next one, and keep insisting and keep taking chances and risks. He's getting into those positions much more in recent games. And now you feel he has this emotional state that he knows that the world can go in. And he scored an incredible goal tonight. Charlie, let's talk about their goal scorer because Martin Odegaard has started the season.

19:39He had a brilliant World Cup and he started the season in really commanding form. Four goals, but it's not just been his goals that have been impressive, has it? No, I think it's all around performance. Again, coming off the back of his season last year, frustration. Probably didn't hit the heights that everybody probably expected. okay they won the league but you know wasn't fit consistently enough for Arsenal and started the season off really well but Arsenal just there again you know probably a brilliant way for a performance to go and get into Naples tough place to go get a 1-0 victory and yeah to go and win 1-0 away from home Mikel's in a different camp from Alonso where he's delighted with that clean sheet 1-0 come back home and look forward to the game at the weekend so you know a brilliant away performance to go away in Europe because it's not easy to get away and get a win.

20:30So he's done well tonight and let's say Odegaard at his best makes Arsenal look much more competitive and Arsenal probably still the team to beat this year for the Premier League. Another stat to back up their dominance in that match their 26 shots was their most on record since 2003 2004 in a single Champions League match and also the most Napoli have faced in that time. A word Pardon Jocherez, Paul, because Maz mentioned him then. He's had a bit of a weird bit-part role so far this season, hasn't he? He was their big money signing last year. He was the striker that they thought they were all desperate.

21:09He did some brilliant things last year, by the way, and taking nothing away from his performances. But he's had a bit of a strange start to this campaign, it feels. And I think that's the question that will always be asked of him when there was a big talk about Arsenal. They've made big moves in the transfer window, didn't they? And one of the big stories was around the number nine that they were looking to bring in. obviously they've got Havertz and Jorcares and Jorcares and Havertz have rotated this season Havertz obviously starting the game against Chelsea Jorcares coming in they've got a deep squad arsenal and you would say that that's maybe the one position where they haven't got the cover that they have in other places and the left-hand side maybe after the departure of Martinelli there's those two areas that you could maybe question but when you look at their squad and you look at the rest of the Premier League squads they've got the deepest strongest squad by a long way and I think with Jorcares and Havertz that's possibly a question mark are either of those two of the world quality that we talk about, Erling Haaland and maybe Alvarez, strikers of that class.

22:00You wouldn't put either of those two in that class. So have Arsenal got goals everywhere else in the team? The answer to that is yes. The strength and depth that they've got is far more than anyone else in the Premier League. And I'm looking in Europe as well. I'm looking at the squads and the benches here tonight. Arsenal have got a much deeper squad and a bench than Liverpool have got. And I think they're going to be the ones to catch this season. I really do. If you want to look at Jorke as a striker, to get the best out of him, he wants to be slid down the side use his power, use his pace to get him behind when he has to come and link I think that becomes the problem for him where Havertz likes to come and link the game and play and then get runners from off the sides but where Jocker is, he wants space to run into and again like you say, Odegaard may be just picking up at deep, sliding in between and that's him sort of using his power and pace where tonight against Napoli he was always receiving back to goal and I don't think that's his strength I think he's more of a nine that wants to run and use the spaces in behind.

22:54So, again, he'll do stuff that he needs to get up to speed. And again, getting goals early in the season gives confidence. We've spoken a lot about Arsenal and what they tried to do in the transfer market, reportedly. Anyway, in terms of maybe looking for that player that can unlock defences when they are facing teams like they did tonight with the moment of magic. Ebreche Eze came in for his first start of the season tonight, Maz. He's had three appearances off the bench so far. Did he do much to show that he can kind of be a difference maker? I know he wasn't on target, but what was his overall performance like?

23:26I mean, I thought his link-up play, in particular going forward, was really nice at times. He actually set up Moreno for that header. It was a lovely sort of cushioned header back from Eza to him. And then his kind of swallow dive, which honestly should have been a goal. I mean, look at the highlights. Arsenal should have been out of sight in this match after an hour played. So he did do some really good things going forward. but clearly just that link-up play, certainly with Jochores, I don't think was there and Paul and Charlie have both said it there. Just the fact is, is that if there is a weakness in this Arsenal team, it was absolutely on show tonight because they created all these amazing chances but nobody converted them and in the end, it had to be that shot from the edge of the area for Martin Erdegaard to get them over the line.

24:10Arsenal got that all-important victory, 1-0 in Naples. So thank you very much to Maz, who's been keeping us up to speed with that one. On the other results from the Champions League this evening, then Barcelona 5-Final 1. Barcelona have now scored 22 goals across their opening five games in all competitions this season. Stuttgart 3-Viking 1. All of the goals came in the first half as Viking lost on their Champions League debut. PSG 6-Slovan Bratislava 1. Ferran Torres' hat-trick in his first Champions League game for PSG. safe to say Yaya Arturo's side were well beaten in Paris and it finished Sporting 3-1, Galatasaray 1.