Premier League Review: Late drama at Anfield keeps title race alive

0:00On the Football Daily Podcast, Premier League Review with Aaron Paul. Hello and welcome to the Premier League Review. Joining me to dissect all of the weekend's action, The Telegraph's northern football writer Luke Edwards and former Premier League striker Clinton Morrison and Gents. What drama we've seen at the end of the game at Anfield, live on Five Live. It unfolded superbly in the second half, Luke. Oh, brilliant. Look, we've got a title, right, haven't we? Because at 1-0 down, Sobsla is absolutely magnificent free kick, which I'm sure we'll go into a bit more detail about shortly. But then City, marker champions that to come back and to come back from that situation that they hadn't won Anfield under Pep Guardiola in front of a crowd.

0:46Silver goal, Harlan penalty, and then all the late drama after that. Brilliant. Premier League football at its very best, Aaron. Clinton Morrison had a good weekend? Yeah, good weekend, mate. And yeah, this is topped off a good weekend because it was a hell of a game. It was a very, yeah, it was a good game. I did think it was going to be 0-0 at one stage, but then, yeah, it just got unbelievable. And yeah, we've had a good weekend and what a game of football. And Luke's right. This is why it's the best league in the world because excitement like this this afternoon, mate. Let's dive straight into it.

1:18And we're recording, as I just mentioned, just after Liverpool won Manchester City 2, a late comeback from Pep Guardiola's side after Dominic Sabozlai's incredible free kick had given Liverpool the lead. He was then sent off right at the end. Let's just explain what happened in that mad finish. Bernardo Silva equalised in the 84th minute. Manchester City bagging themselves a penalty in stoppage time for a foul by Alisson. Erling Haaland stepping up to make it 2-1. And then City thought they'd grab themselves a third when Rayan Cherky scored from near halfway with Alisson up for a corner. But Sabozlai and Haaland with a bit of a tusk I saw both fouling each other.

1:54Sabozlai sent off and a free kick given. Did anyone see that comeback coming? Clinton? No, not really. At one stage, I thought that was the Premier League title all over. And I think even Pep Guardiola must have been thinking when the cameras were on him on the touchline that they need a miracle. And they got a miracle. And that's why I said, this is why it's the best league in the world. It's so unpredictable. At one stage, you think it was only one team's going to win Liverpool. And then it swings and goes one way. and then Man City go and make it 2-1 and then you're thinking, oh, Liverpool get a chance, McAllister shot, Donnarumma with an outstanding save and then they go up the other end.

2:28It's brilliant, but it's good for the title race. I know Arsenal fans will be here now fuming, but I think it's good. It's good for the Premier League and the title race that is still alive and kicking. Talk to me about that free kick from Dominic Sabozlai. It was special, Luke. Yeah, just incredible. I don't want to be that guy, but as regular listeners will know, I quite often am that guy. why did Donnarumma have two men in the wall? I mean, it's Sobber's lie. You know he can absolutely welly them with precision. He has a two-man wall. Now, I'm thinking you want at least four in there. I'm not a goalkeeper.

3:06I'm just saying I don't want to take away from it, but I am taking away from it because I think that's a big mistake. It's almost like Donnarumma was saying, go on then, you're that far out, have a shot, let me have a clear sight of it, and I'll save it. He gets a clear sight of it and doesn't move. It is an absolutely incredible strike. I mean, it's hit. It looks like it's going to go straight, but it swerves to the right, goes in off the inside of the post. Incredible strike. And at that stage, Liverpool were on top. Bekutik had missed a huge, huge chance. Header, great ball from Salah. Liverpool were the team with all the momentum, and then they get the goal at Anfield.

3:47Man City, I think it's three wins there in 50 years. That'll be their fourth in 50 years. All the, everything is pointing to Liverpool winning and Arsenal having a nine point lead at the top of the table. But the way Manchester City came back and I thought they were poor second half, but the way they came back at the end and the pressure on Haaland, let's make no mistake about that. Haaland's not in the richest vein of form. He's struggling. He's had to wait a long, long time to take that penalty and he puts it in the opposite corner to where he normally goes and strokes it in. Yeah, just brilliant scenes and really, really good.

4:23As Clinton has just said, really, really good for the title race. He just keeps that pressure on Arsenal at the top of the table. But yeah, the last half an hour were phenomenal entertainment. Clinton, I don't know how many free kicks you scored in your life. I mean, forget the two-man war. You could have double-brick-ficked it and no one's stopping that. No, there's absolutely no... I haven't got that quality or power to be hitting from Dominic. So, Boz, I do agree with what Luke said. maybe he should have had a few more. But then I think to myself, well, David Rea did and he pulled it in the top corner there.

4:53But I think, I do believe what you're saying, mate, is spot on. If they get an extra player in there, but it's a fantastic three-game. I, for one, can't be too critical of Donnarumma because I still think he's one of the best goalkeepers in the world. But I get exactly what Luke's saying. If you put an extra body in there and where the ball went to, I think that third man in that wall maybe gets a block on him. It's a big gap in it, Clinton. It is a big gap. It's a huge gap. And that's what I say. when Luke sees it he's absolutely spot on but at the same time don't take nothing away from Dominic Sabozla the free kick was outstanding and it's not a fluke he's been Liverpool's best player this season fantastic strike but then Donnarumma makes up for it if we think that's his fault which I don't think it's his fault I just think it's a brilliant strike and he could add an extra man in there the save he makes at 2-1 is outstanding I was listening to the commentary on Five Live John Murray mentioned that Mikel Arteta said he'd go for a nice dinner he'd sit down and watch that game how do you reckon he's feeling after that, Luke?

5:47I think there would have been a rueful smile. I think he knows that Manchester City aren't going to just let them sail off into the, ride off into the distance, sorry. Nine points at this stage of the season would have been a huge, huge gap. He would have been very happy at 1-0. And as I've said, Liverpool were the better team in that stage and in control. But Man City came back and yeah, I think it might have left a slightly bitter taste, Aaron, I would imagine when he saw the shift in that game and the three points going to Manchester City. I mean, I don't know, what do you think Mikel Arteta would eat on a Sunday night?

6:21Does he go traditional Sunday roast, English Sunday roast? There's no way Mikel Arteta is sitting down to goose fat roast potatoes, cauliflower cheese. Do you not think he's been here a long time? I think he's a man of distinction. I think it's wine, fine meats, that kind of thing. You can get fine meats in a roast, Aaron. You can. And I just think he goes for something just a little bit more. I'd like to know. Now I've pricked this little interest, now I've gone down this rabbit hole, I want to know if Mikel Arteta has a Sunday roast. Well, apparently our Five Live reporter, George Cummins, did ask him about his roast on a Sunday.

6:58I don't know what Mikel Arteta gave as an answer. Well, we need to know now. I'd love to go to Casa Arteta for a Sunday dinner. So Arsenal lead the Premier League by six points. They used to a 3-0 win at home to Sunderland on Sunday. Victor Jokeres with two goals after Martin Zubimendi opened the scoring. And I just want to pick up on something that I've read a lot over the weekend and I've listened to on podcasts and outlets. And it's about the Arsenal recovery. After that defeat to Manchester United, won four in a row. And it just feels like there's no stopping them. They know how to get knocked down and get up again, as was once famously sung.

7:36That was just famously sung by Chumbawamba. Chumbawamba. Chumbawamba classic. I'm not going to sing it. I should try. We get knocked down. We get up again. You're never going to keep me down. That's how it goes, isn't it? Absolutely. I just can't believe it. I can't believe you sang that. Keep that in, by the way, as well. I'm going to regret that. But yeah, they do. They do. No, they definitely do. And Sunderland, not easy. You know, the big surprise package of the season. Really, really tough, nasty team to play against. Caused Arsenal all sorts of problems at the Stadium. I like very, very physical.

8:10Yes, they're missing Granit Xhaka at the minute, but they've dispatched them. And that's what Arsenal are doing to teams. And I'm not having this Arsenal are boring either. They're a boring team or they're going to be the worst champions. Beauty's in the eye of the beholder and they have changed the landscape of the Premier League in their own way. It's not to everyone's taste, of course, but they are ruthlessly efficient, very, very effective, strong all over the pitch. They deserve to be where they are. And yeah, if they are champions, they'll be more than worthy in my opinion and they are answering all of the questions they're being asked.

8:44They are ticking them off one by one. Clinton, what is attractive football? That's the thing. People are saying they're not going to be... Sorry, did you say worthy champions, Luke? No, people... Yeah, ugly champions are not worthy champions. This is such a stupid phrase. I mean, it's... People complain about style. I mean, the fact of the matter is goals change games and three points for a win and that's all that matters. Yeah, it don't matter about the style. You think Arsenal fans will be bothered and then players and Mikko Arteta come the end of the season. People say, you didn't play attractive, you kept the handbrake slightly ajar.

9:14I don't care. I've got a trophy and I've got a medal and it says I've won the Premier League. So that's what it's all about at the moment with Arsenal. And I think yesterday's game against Sunderland showed they're getting back to their best because Sunderland caused them a few problems and, you know, Brobby in particular up front caused them a few problems. But once Zubimendi scored the goal, Arsenal were in cruise control. So, yeah, I just think there's still a long way to go and the title race is a long way to go. And you know what the deciding factor will be in this title race? I'm going to put it out there, the Carabao Cup.

9:45Whoever wins that, I think it's an advantage for them. It's an advantage for them. Whoever wins the Carabao Cup, it's an advantage for them without a shadow of doubt because if City win it, they're full of confidence. Arsenal win it, they're thinking, oh, we don't get over the line. We haven't won a trophy again. If Arsenal win it, then you make Arsenal the favourites. So, yeah, I think that is a huge game, that one. Arsenal having won the trophy yeah that's what I mean Arsenal not having won that trophy since the FA Cup they go to Wembley and lose to Manchester City and then maybe that will put the heebie-jeebies up them a little bit but yeah that's a mouth-watering final as well isn't it that you know the two best teams in the country sorry Newcastle and Chelsea who lost their semi-finals but yeah that's a that's a big big occasion as you say the timing of it Clinton just when it is and what's at stake yeah could have huge ramifications the fact is though They did it without Saka.

10:35They did it without Odegaard. And that squad, and it is a squad. It's one heck of a squad that Mikel Arteta has built. Everyone's chipping in. Everyone's pitching in. And Sunderland have been impressive. Obviously, missing Granit Xhaka. They have been impressive this season. But Arsenal, they're ruthless when they need to be. Yeah, you're right, Az. But the thing with that is Odegaard's not been in good form. And Saka, I like Saka. And he'll be in my first 11. but he hasn't been to the level that we've seen him, that he was at previous season. So this is why Arsenal spent big in the summer. So when you get injuries to the likes of Saka and Odegaard, like they've had in previous season, it doesn't affect their title race.

11:16I think the more concern would probably have been if they did lose him, Gabriel, and they still managed to win football matches. But that's where they've got the strength in depth. If they miss someone like probably a Declan Rice, do they have a ready replacement? No. So that would be the one where if they lost someone like a Declan Rice, then I'd have to see where Arsenal are at. But at the moment, they've got so much strength in depth. Michael Mourinho, he's out for, I think, maybe the season now and they've got players that can come in and fill his void anyway. So, yeah, they're the favourites at the moment, but I'm saying there's still a long way to go.

11:49And this result here today could give Man City huge confidence coming back and they've still got, City have got players to come back in. Having Diaz come on today can partner with Mark Gay, they'll have Stones back soon. So, yeah, they've got a lot of players to come back in that can improve their squad as well. Luke, talk to me about Victor Jokeres. He's their top scorer this season, Arsenal. He's taken a bit of flack in places. I need to leap in for Victor because Rick, who's not here tonight, I mean, he described him as toilet last weekend. Did he? Did he, Luke? He described him as toilet. And I thought that was strong.

12:23I thought that was strong, Clint. I'm not going to lie. I thought that was strong. It's very strong for me. When I see him next, I might have to have a word. Yeah. Yeah. So, and he sort of, he thought I was peer-led. I was peer-led into, into sort of railroaded into agreeing with him that he wasn't very good. But I've always had a soft spot for a struggling centre-forward. I mean, that is one of my things in football. Going back to some of the donkeys I've seen playing play for the year. I feel like you're on this at the moment. That's a different conversation, Aaron. He definitely falls into the struggling characters.

12:57but I'm pleased for him because he's not toilet he's not toilet and it takes time it can take time for players to settle I know he's played in English football before but he'd never played in the Premier League before big price tag and yeah he was underwhelming but he's starting to score goals as you've just said Aaron top goal scorer so I'm pleased for him and that just adds another arrow to Arsenal's bow, doesn't it? They've got where they are with their big money centre-forward signing, struggling, but now he's beginning to score goals. So more good news for Mikel Arteta. And he's not toilet.

13:34It is the mark of champions not being spectacular every single day of the week and every match day, but going about your business quietly, doing things efficiently and just kind of slipping under the radar. Yeah, Luke's alluded to it. It's just about winning football matches. as. For Arsenal, Arsenal don't need to be pretty. They haven't won it for ages, the Premier League. As I said at the start, will they care about, oh, it's got to be sexy, attractive? No, no one cares about that at Arsenal or the fans. It's about getting the three points and putting pressure on the teams behind them, in particular Man City, and that's what they're doing at the moment.

14:09They know they're there to be got at. They know they've been in this position a few times and they've been caught. So now, yeah, the pressure will mount on them, and they spent the money in the summer to be able to compete with the likes of City. And it was obviously Liverpool. By the way, Clinton, We're old enough to remember George Graham's Arsenal. Exactly. Exactly. I don't remember the Arsenal fans of that generation going, oh, do you know what? We won the league, but we won 1-0. We won it with a really good defence. It's just nonsense. No one cares. I know we're in the era of everyone wants to see attractive football.

14:42And yeah, we do want to see attractive football. But do Arsenal fans and Arsenal players and the management staff care if Arsenal don't win? I'm pretty. and sometimes they're tough games they're playing against. And they've been involved in good games this season. But I agree with Luke. Listen, I did question Victor Jokeres many a times. Do I think he should be the main striker? No, I don't. I think Havertz and Jay-Z are better than him. But I was so happy for him yesterday to get those two goals. And it might give him confidence moving forward. But one thing I will say is, watching Arsenal, they don't give him service that he wants.

15:12The full-backs check back and he needs crosses into the box. He's never going to be a link kind of player. They brought him in to score goals. in the box, but I was happy for him yesterday. Let's flip the table and hone in on one of your former clubs, Clinton, because Crystal Palace got their first Premier League win since early December, beating rivals Brighton 1-0 at the Amex thanks to a second half Ismail Asar goal. And what a big, big win that was for Oliver Glasner's side, Clinton. Yeah, massive win, massive win. Like everyone's saying, oh, Palace could be sucked into the relegation battle.

15:45Well, that means Brighton could be in it now then because Palace have gone ahead of them. So that means there's about six or seven teams that could be sucked in. But no, it's not been a good few months for Crystal Palace with Mark Gay leaving. Obviously, Oliver Glasner didn't say he's going to leave at the end of the season. And now JP Mateta's stuff, he was meant to leave and didn't leave because he failed a medical. So, yeah, it's not been good. But yeah, it's a positive performance. Today, it looks like when I was watching the game, that was a Palace performance that we see. Hard to beat. Not the best, but they managed to get that goal through a player who's been outstanding for them.

16:17Ishmael Sarr, really good finish. and I was so happy that my old club and hopefully now they can start climbing up the table. They got a few good fixtures coming up and hopefully they're not looking down. They're now looking up. But yeah, big result. And you know what? They call it a derby but I call it a rivalry and it was in a big game and Palace fans get bragging rights again. So I'm happy tonight. You talk about Palace being hard to beat. Luke, just when you think about the past sort of month, two months the noise surrounding that football club. Firstly, being out of the transfer window is going to be huge because of the the clarity over players and the fact that they can focus on actual football now rather than player trading.

16:55But, I mean, to bag a win in this game of all games, it could give them a mega boost. Yeah, they needed something just... Noise is a really good word for it. A lot of it was self-generated, Aaron. I mean, the manager kept throwing hand grenades in, didn't he? And has been since the summer. Then comes out and says, I'm leaving at the end of the season. And that has the potential to really derail things because they're already in a difficult spell. Knocked out the FA Cup by Macclesfield, of course, and nothing was going right. A real slump in form. And then you've got the manager saying, right, I'm out of here in the summer.

17:31That could have gone disastrously wrong. But whatever's happened, there's probably a bit of a siege mentality there. They've pulled together. Glasner is obviously a very, very talented manager and there's been a wonderful appointment by Crystal Palace and they've pulled it around. And yeah, they really don't like each other, do they, Crystal Palace and Brighton? I'm not entirely sure why still. I have to excuse my ignorance. I'm not entirely sure why because it's a derby, but they really hate each other. And they've gone away from home and they've won and they've made Brighton, who we've talked about a lot of teams being in crisis this season and managers under pressure.

18:07But wow, Brighton, under the radar, quietly, they are in a real mess. and we saw today Brighton fans turning on her litter you're getting sacked in the morning you don't know what you're doing all the great anthems of a manager fans who want a manager gone so and they've sort of opened that wound even further today Crystal Palace so they'll be absolutely delighted about it definitely a rivalry and not a derby yeah it's a rivalry it's not a derby why do they dislike each other Clinton why do they not it's something that's gone on from years ago back in history even when I played in that they were trying to explain to me I was like, I just want to play football.

18:44And if it's a rivalry and the fans don't like each other, I'm going to try my best. But they really don't like each other, though. No, they don't. And it's bragging rights. Yeah, it is hatred and it's stuff that's going on. But as Aaron said, it's not a derby, it's a rivalry. They're an hour away. Palace's derbies, for me, which are close to them, is someone like a Millwall or a Charlton Athletic that are on their doorstep. But it's bragging rights and I'm happy and they needed that. And hopefully that gives them a kickstart from now to the end of the season. But you just alluded to it, Luke. big pressure for Herzler now huge pressure because you can hear the boos at the end of it and they don't look the same they're not the same fluent team that I saw with De Zerbe and they're struggling to score goals at the moment they're not keeping clean sheets and that's a recipe for disaster so pressure will mount on him and their next run of fixtures as they've got some tough games coming up Let's hear from the Brighton and Herobian head coach Fabian Herzler has spoken to Rob Nothman I think till the first goal we were in the game we had not a lot of chance but we had chances and then I wasn't happy how we reacted after we conceded the goal.

19:44We looked fragile, that was not how we wanted to react on setbacks so therefore we have to analyse it. Regarding the reactions, I think it's part of football. I'm responsible for that. I think everyone is allowed to share his emotions. In the end, I'm responsible for that so I know this but I'm fully committed and I'm there to not complain about these things. I'm there to find solutions and that's what I try to do together for my team. Is it a bit of a worry when it's the mind first that you need to try to fix among the players, when they lose a bit of confidence? It's not an easy thing just to be able to wave a magic wand and get that back.

20:21I think I'm not worried because mind is always part of a football game and a football player. So we always see players as players, but in the end, behind every player is like a person. Fabian Herzler after his side were beaten by a goal to nil by Crystal Palace talking to the BBC's Rob Nothman he's a very very young man but the fact of the matter is he's a Premier League manager Luke and results never lie do they I mean they just they feel like they've lost that sort of bright and sparkle haven't they yeah drifting that's how I would describe it drifting is it one win in 12 now doesn't matter what manager what manager of which club you are at what level one win in 12 you're in trouble Brighton have been held up as the as the ideal model for all aspirational clubs to follow they've done brilliantly punched above their weight for a long long time but we've seen this before Aaron you keep selling your best players and you keep you know relying on the brilliance of your data model and your recruitment to find the replacements who will be just as good there's no such thing as 100 success ratio in in recruitment and i think brighton's recruitment has probably gone a bit wayward that the players they've lost they've not replacing the players who are as good and the novelty of being that brighton of being that you know thorn in the side of the big boys of being bright and who've come up from the lower leagues and are on the big stage it wears off after a while and you can go back to in recent history Stoke were a very different sort of club to Brighton in the way they did it.

22:01They were to go back to Arsenal. They were very direct and they played, for want of a better word, ugly football. But they stayed in the Premier League for a long time. They qualified for Europe. They did really well. And then eventually the magic sort of fades. And I do wonder whether that is what we're now seeing with Brighton. And I think Hurlitz is obviously in trouble because Tony Bloom won't let this drift forever because he'll know that if it carries, Kerry continues to drift this season. and I don't think they'll be in any trouble of going down. I think that they'll be too good and we've got too many points on the board already to have to worry about that.

22:33But the sense of drift is insidious and dangerous and he will act. So they need a turnaround. There might not be any trouble of going down. They need a turnaround. They've got two really tough games coming up as well. Aston Villa and then Liverpool in the FA Cup next weekend. So they're in trouble and it's worrying really. but we have seen this before with those sorts of, sorry, but smaller Premier League clubs. They punch above their weight for a long, long time and then just lose that spark. And I think that might be what we're seeing happening to Brighton at the moment. So looking at the Premier League table, Brighton in 14th with seven wins from their 25 games and 31 points.

23:13Palace leapfrogging them into 13th, just a point ahead. Behind them, Spurs and Leeds both on 29 with Notting Forest, three clear of West Ham United in 18th. And it is the relegation battle that we will now hone in on. Crescente Somerville, five goals in five. And you can really see where that West Ham sort of surge has come from Clinton lately. They look like a different animal under Nuno Espirito Santo. What, in recent weeks? I'm not going to say throughout, but there seems to be a real siege mentality. Yeah, they've been outstanding. They brought a few players in as well that are going to help the team.

23:50But yeah, credit to West Ham, credit to Nuno. I think Somerville has been the catalyst alongside Jarrod Bowen now as well. But in particular, Somerville, he looks a real threat. The new signing obviously scores a goal yesterday. The header, which was fantastic as well. They brought in Diassi, who I think if you ask Diassi to just defend and not complicate it and try to play out from the back and think he's better than what he is, it'll be a really good signing for West Ham. And they needed him because Taddebo was obviously, he's been out suspended. did. So yeah, they've made Adama Traore can come in and can cause problems when players are tired in the last half an hour, cause a lot of problems.

24:24So they brought in some experienced players and they've gave themselves a fighting chance. If you look at it now, West Ham have a real chance. They've got a hard game this week against Man United, but they'll be full of confidence and teams like Forest and even Tottenham, they'll be looking over their shoulders because Tottenham's next two games are Newcastle and Arsenal. So they've got tough games and you're thinking and Romero now their captain's going to be out suspended for both of those games as well so there's some big games and yeah I think that's going to go right down to the wire and I'm glad because West Ham have given themselves a fighting chance at the minute.

24:57I'm always gonna try and hold people accountable West Ham but it is West Ham doing West Ham things isn't it David Sullivan realising that they're in trouble and going out and putting money down and bringing in the likes of Tati Castellanos and I think with him a lot of people criticising the fact that they've gone and brought someone in who hasn't got an incredible goal-scoring record. But the fact is, he's got that hutspa, he's got that gumption to go and try and lead forward, and they need leaders. They need people who are going to try and drive from the front, and he is someone who has certainly done that.