Can Slot turn Liverpool around against Aston Villa? Is Bournemouth better than Manchester City? Spurs vs Chelsea chaos? Big Weekend Preview Presented by PrizePicks 10/31/25

0:00You're listening to the Men in Blazers Media Network Suboptimal Radio.

0:13The Premier League, so many intriguing, psychologically fraught match-ups this weekend. Manchester United really back. Is Arsenal's backline a wonder of the world? Are Liverpool truly finished? Are the Bournemouth Golden War cherries really, really good at football? Are Everton so lonely I could die? The answer is yes, yes, yes, yes, and yes, I think in that order. But we're going to dig a little deeper on this show, people. Let's lose our minds over week 10 together. This is Big Weekend Preview. Your biggest questions are most suboptimal answers. It's where we, as they say in America, get amped for all that is to come.

0:56Or as Erling Haaland would say, I need to feed me a lot of balls. Consider it done. First question. Hey there, Rog. My name is John. I'm from Lincoln, Nebraska. I have a question actually about Liverpool right now. I saw their game against Crystal Palace where they lost 3-0 in the EFL Cup, and I believe that makes six games lost in seven games. But I was thinking back to a question that I actually asked on the pod about six months ago after Liverpool won the title, which was, does Arnie Slott winning the title give him more credit as a coach when he struggles in the future, or less credit? Do you think Arnie Slott winning the league last year gives him more leeway as a coach or less leeway?

1:36All right, Courage, Raj. Bye. John, you link in Nebraska King. What a time to ask this question. Last Saturday, Liverpool became the first side in English top flight history to lose four straight Premier League games after winning their first five. I take no pleasure in this. I'm just here objectively. But in one month, they plummeted. from first place to seventh. And what you're really asking is, well, is football emotional or is it rational? And I think the answer is emotional, first, second and third. I'm going to dig a little deeper into that in one minute, but it's an incredible time to ask all of this.

2:17As Liverpool brace themselves to face Unai Emery's resilient, victorious Aston Villa, Saturday, 4pm Eastern Time USA, then they only have to face Real Madrid midweek and, whoa, Chex notes, Manchester City next weekend. What a murderous goal, look. I read a piece in the BBC today which was talking about slots Liverpool. They said this, it's hard to recall any championship winning side demonstrating such disregard for how they actually won that title in the first place. I actually think the opposite is true. I think they always keep trying to play a version of that slot, high-risk, high-reward football that won them the title and, well, just paying the ultimate price.

3:03On his right, Pierre-Yenemi Pino into the corner. It's three for Palace with three minutes to go and that has wrapped it right up. I know, I know. On the slot, yes, rested 10 players in that midweek Carabao Cup, 3-0 self-soiling against Crystal Palace. but it almost ups the stakes now because sacrificing that tournament, writing it off, saying I'm going to play my kids, means that the pressure's now on completely and utterly. The spotlight is on to unfurl and improve performance, a winning performance against City Slayers Aston Villa because of it. Here was Slott speaking this very morning about if he's going to change his style for this one because, well, we've watched every single opponent find so much room directly in behind his honour.

3:53So I don't see a reason to change our playing style completely. But yeah, we need to do better in not conceding goals. That's for sure. I honestly don't believe what Arna just said for a second. Because yes, on one hand, Aston Villa, and you can make the case Manchester City, they're not Brentford who will and did sit deep and then surge forward in moments. But Liverpool, ultimately watching them so frail, so vulnerable, so aura-dented, they always have to return to basics. If only to build confidence rather than swagger in and be cut to shreds once again. That is a non-option. So to answer your question, and speaking to the Liverpool fans in my life, and there are so many, I don't think Slott's victory last year has honestly earned him anything in terms of respite or goodwill.

4:44because, well, number one, football's a cruel game of optics and aura and short memories. And if anything, I think the belief that's actually growing because of this dark, dark run. And by the way, I don't ascribe to this at all, is that the title last year, more than ever, is Jurgen Klopp's posthumous title, if you will, posthumous career-wise. Because the one thing that a loss run has changed is how good, how a bullion Liverpool fans feel about the first five games. We remember those. Do you remember them even? The late winning surge alchemy. Ultimately, retrospectively, when you look at them now, you see the doubts, you see the cracks, you see the modicum of foreshadowing that those barnstorms, which honestly fill an age away.

5:30and watching Arna Slott's season two character arc diminish from that calm, stoic sex god, really, to this Natalie Imbruglia position of cold and shame lying naked on the floor, don't think about it, has been humanly remarkable to witness. Liverpool's six losses since September the 27th are the single most of any team in Europe's big five leagues. Again, schadenfreude is not me. I take no pleasure in that. I just have to keep repeating it. Probably for my own sake, your bald Dutchman made the Premier League look effortless last season and now he's floundering. There are many reasons maybe why we've lost five out of six or six out of seven.

6:12None of them are good enough to accept.

6:19OK, want to be featured on our show next week? Send us a video with your biggest question about the games ahead. Use the link in the description below. Come be with us. And if you don't want your beautiful face on YouTube, feel free to call us 646-450-9472 and leave us a voicemail. Question me up. Hey Raj, Brett from New Jersey, Bournemouth fan. Quick question about him. Are they for real this season? And would beating Manchester City this weekend prove that? Courage. Big Brett, we're actually playing a live show in your glorious state of New Jersey at the Stone Pony, historic Stone Pony, on November the 11th.

6:58And I can't wait. You state the heart of all that's good about American football. OK, you're asking, are Bournemouth for real ahead of their clash at Manchester City, Sunday, 11.30 a.m. Eastern Time on USA Channel? I can't wait for this game. Tyler Adams coming on shortly afterwards. And I just say, not just because of my friendship with Tyler, But my Lord, are they ever for real? But I guess what your question means is ultimately decisive here. Are they a real live wire? Yes. Are they brilliantly coached? Yes. Brilliantly organized. Brilliantly scouted. Brilliantly identity forged. Yes, yes, yes.

7:37They are the modern football league success team in its apogee. The answer is yes to all of these. Edge of the box. Quibi shoots. Quibi scores again. Oh, it's brilliant! Good Lord, that is the sound of Team Sensation Junior Kruppi. Is it four goals in his last three games? Their latest recruitment pearl. He's 19. And Bournemouth are in second place right now. Is that for real? That's for real right now. But is a top four ultimate finish real? That's a very, very different question. And yes, as I said, the Cherries head to Manchester City. Fifth place City. Team against whom they have never won.

8:19A city recoiling after last weekend's short, damp, squib, 1-0 defeat at Aston Villa, which was their third in nine league games. So this is a beatable city, a vulnerable city. And I guess the question is, can Bournemouth win this weekend? And the truth is, undoubtedly, this is a truly imbalanced city side. Two big men, their difference makers, Donnarumma at the back, and a YouTube influencer, sometimes striker, Erling Haaland up top, drinking all your raw milk. The incredible stat for City, only players named Erling have scored more than once this season. And Andoni Irola lives to plot the downfall of teams like this tactically.

9:02So if Bournemouth win this, I'll say the noise around them will be and should be that they are pound for pound the best fighter in world football. And it will go up to 11. But Irola knows this though, this Premier League, well number one is a chaos league right now where everything is possible there's vulnerability everywhere in that table not you arsenal but he'll also know this from last season that the premier league is an ultra marathon it's not a sprint and the reputation we talked about it for on a slot vibes optics they're all very fluid in fact Irola said this to Sky midweek I think as a manager, I say it a lot of times, we cannot look too much ahead.

9:49Your future depends on your next results. Now we have City, Villaway, we could lose both games. That is probably a big chance and people will start thinking, oh, they were doing well and now they've dropped a little bit and at the end you have to continue performing. So ultimately, whatever the result, I would avoid the sweeping big picture proclamations. That's like, I mean, football fans just cannot. It's what we do on the tin, right? But I just savour what Bournemouth are achieving in real time. The season is long. The challenges are many. The night is dark and full of terrors. The squad is small.

10:27The intangibles, the injuries, the exhaustion. I don't even want to speak them into existence. I feel most, to be candid, that January transfer window, because those buzzards will be swooping in for Antoine Semenya. So I'll just say this for a Bournemouth perspective. perspective and I consider myself to be Bournemouth curious if I'm being honest there's miles to go before we sleep

11:01God bless Cherry's fans living their best life I love it all I love the Palace fans I love the Brighton fans I love the Brentford fans saver all of this take none of it for granted next question hi my name is brian from maine i'm a chelsea fan what is your go-to comfort food after your team loses brian what a tiny but perfect question it's like the bonsai tree of questions it's a sideways question because your chelsea your chelsea won five of the last six games all comps they're about to face tottenham Hotspur, who have just one win in the last 13 against you boys. A team who are so blunt in attack that three of the last four Premier League games, the starting front four, have registered not a single goal involvement.

11:48And yet, you're worried about defeat? You're worried about comfort food? So I'll give you a serious answer to the question in a moment. But wow, what a rumble. 1.30 p.m. Eastern time tomorrow on Peacock. Two teams, both so potent on their day. and both so erratic, so unreliable, so enigmatic in a way. Let's start with Tottenham. It's the best of times. It's the worst of times. Third in the table under Thomas Frank. But yes, the fixture list has been kind. That's where the doubts start to creep in. And we have to talk about it. The Tottenham home form. If the table was just based on home form, Spurs wouldn't be third.

12:31They'd be 17th. So you have to fathom what is going on. Thomas Frank's team play at their best in transition. That's what's propelled them, the road form. At home, they've won just four of their 17 points. They've not truly impressed at all. It's been robust football on the road. It's been reactive. It's been set play propelled. I mean, by the way, I just saw Tottenham dominate scoreline-wise, but not on the field. Everton Football Club smashed us 3-0. The second half, the game was played in and around the Tottenham box the whole time. Tottenham played on the counter. They scored off a couple of Mickey van der Ven set pieces.

13:09You can't play like that at home in front of the expectant faithful. They would never be allowed to play like that. They cannot play like that in front of the home crowd. And Mareska was asked this morning, essentially, why are Tottenham so bloody bad at home? And he said this. I don't know. This is a question for them, to be honest. lols man pretending he's not watched game film with Tottenham but the truth is Chelsea are also a confusing reality they're part imperious football team club world cup champions you know but they're also part asylum they've had a player or the manager sent off in an incredible you almost have to applaud it six of the last nine games by the way it's unclear if Cole Palmer will be back I would imagine he would not be Marescu was tight-lipped about that this morning but your Chelsea, ultimately, with Cole, without Cole, have so many bloody weapons of joy.

14:02I'm old enough to remember Esteval, but ultimately, both teams are unconvincing. That's really why you're asking this. Look at Chelsea's insane 4-3 win away at Wolves in the Carabao Cup midweek. 3-0 up at halftime. Celebration. The champagne on ice and then the Blues conceded 3 to Wolves in the second half. Survived their 6-red card in nine games. Well done And Liam De Lappe, if ever a player looked like he was hellbent on securing an end-of-season loan to Everton, it's Liam De Lappe. Come be with us. You're exactly what we need, baby. A mad one. But step up, young Jamie Gittins, and do this. Chelsea will want to put it to bed here.

14:43Oh, what a goal. Gittins is first for Chelsea. Good job he did that because, of course, now Liam De Lapp will be suspended for those two yellow cards in 26 minute cameo. This game ultimately, I guess, is the crossover episode of in treatment that the Premier League fan base has been crying out for for so long. Brian, you talked me into it. If I was a Chelsea fan, I'd feel both fear and confidence. I agree with you now. You got me stressed out over this one. So comfort food. I was actually asked about this by infatuation and I dug out my answer because I like to be consistent. They asked me, what's the best place to head to?

15:18I think their question they sent was, when I feel sadder than a Philip Larkin poem after Everton lose. And I do, and I did, often drop into red form in New York City in order to crispy skin smoked chicken with garlic, which is a mood changer. It is so beautiful, the harmony between the garlic and the chicken and the delicate smoking. It's really the midfield balance that Everton have been crying out for. But honestly, Everton have lost so much since I did that interview. There is something I do, which is not food now, but I really would recommend it. Mentally, I feel so much healthier for it. I go on a hike when Everton lose as quickly as I can.

16:02I get my dog, Martin Scorsese, and I go on like in the middle of nowhere. I go on a very, very long hike. No headphones, just me, my dog friend. And there's something about the energy of the silence, the birds, the air, and now the four leaves, which are really, really moving. But above all, I find it's like just a mechanical rhythm, the mind turnoff of repeat, stepping me and the dog together for a couple of hours in harmony, which truly clears my head, gives me some of my most positive and creative thoughts. They just come. You might need it this Saturday, but I don't think so. Palmer with a Paninca.

16:42That is poise. That is cheek. That is skill. And that is also almost taunting Tottenham.

16:56Now remember, join us on the Men In Blazers Discord channel during all the Premier League action this weekend. I'll be in there breaking it down with so many like-minded souls who listen to this show. Because as we all know, football's better with friends. The link is in the show notes. Come and join us now. One more October 31st related question, please. Hello, Raj. It's Frank from Kennebunk, Maine, Crystal Palace, the border. I have a question now that Halloween is upon us, trick-or-treating, pumpkin carving, decorations. If you could choose only two opposing managers from this weekend's crashes in the Premier League to show up on your door, knock, trick-or-treating, who would it be?

17:39What would they be wearing for costumes? And what sort of candy would you give them? Courage. Big Frank, I love your question. Happy Halloween to the world. It's actually my second son Bear's birthday today. Godspeed. I've still got to pick out my outfit. I think I might. I think I have to. I'm going to dress up as Frank Islett, that Manchester fan with all the hair tonight. By the way, I interviewed, talking about Frank Isle, I interviewed Ruben Amarin, Manchester United 3-4-3 apostle, to mark his year in the job. And he was really, really honest in the midst of this winning run. The interview comes out tomorrow on our YouTube.

18:19It's beautiful. I do hope, Ruben, talking to me, is the nadir of your time at Old Trafford. I asked Ruben what changed during the three-game winning spurt. his first response was that they'd gotten quote, lucky at Anfield, which is very Rubin, but they then moved through the change in mentality and Bumo and Cunha were provided together. The confidence the backline has given Senna Lomans and I think the reciprocal belief that they've received from having a young, confident goalkeeper who can kick long in return and then the spirit of tenacity. I love this part that Harry Maguire embodies. We also went deep over whether Frank Isler will ever get a haircut.

19:00It's a lovely piece and I really can't wait for you to hit it. But in terms of managers and great hair, I guess I'll continue that train of thought. Who would I like to knock on my door? I'd probably love to have Mikel Arteta drop by and not just because he's playing at Burnley this weekend Saturday 11am Eastern Time on USA with his team soaring but I admire him so much. I admire what he's doing so bloody much. Most of all right now, that back line, that clean sheet producing work of art. Just three goals conceded all season. This statistic, mind-blowing. David Raya has only faced a single shot, one shot on target over the course of the last three games.

19:42Wow, I'm going a bit deep on this one, haven't I? One note, Gabriel Martinelli remains out. Well, defender William Saliba will be a doubt. But I love what Arteta's building. I admire it so greatly. I think resilience, tenacity is the most important human characteristic. And that's what Arteta embodies, what his team this season embody. After all they've been through, they are so bloody resilient. So what would Arteta dress as? In England, Arteta with his square jaw and his beautifully dense, quite thick helmet hair have been compared to Action Man, essentially the G.I. Joe version in England. A lot of people have compared to Ronaldo.

20:27There was a joke a couple of years ago, not that funny, that he looks like an evil Ronaldo, which honestly feels a bit extra. But I sometimes look at Mikel Arteta on that bench and catch a glimpse, a glimpse of Casey Affleck. So I would love it tonight if there was a ring on the doorbell and Arteta was there. You asked for two managers playing, so he'd be alongside, obviously, the very handsome Scotty Parker. In his own right, he'd be dressed as some kind of Tom Cruise character. But if Arteta came dressed as Casey Affleck in Manchester by the Sea, I think my life would be complete. I love you.

21:06Maybe I shouldn't say that. Oh, you can say that. It's just... I'm sorry, I've got to go. Oh, that got a bit bleaker than I imagined it would do when I began. But enjoy yourself, Arsenal fans. There was a lovely comment on YouTube under our pod last week. I think it was from at Crumble00, and they wrote, Arsenal fan, couldn't care less about any analysis. It's been 20 years, and we starving. I love that, we starving. Savour every second, Crumble. Savour every second, Gunners. You deserve it. That's it for today. Everton don't play until Monday at Sunderland. Thank you, football gods, for saving my weekend.

21:46And I'm going to leave you with a conversation I had this week, actually this time last week in South London, where I went to watch Crystal Palace's first ever Wonder European night. Also got to spend time with their deeply thoughtful chairman himself, Steve Parrish. I did speak to their seemingly telepathic phenomenon, Adam Wharton as well. You can find that on our YouTube. Both conversations were so refreshing. You can find them at the links below. But Steve Parrish is going to take us out with a beautiful quote. about wife, regrets, and the singularly optimistic Oliver Glasner. This is Rog wishing you big love and courage.

22:24It's incredible. Steve Parrish. I just make the decision on the basis I don't want to die at wondering. What am I going to regret the most? Am I going to regret not trying or trying? So you decide I'm going to regret not trying much more. And I think that was a moment really with Oliver. I just felt if ever we're going to change our playing style, if ever we're going to break through that glass ceiling, this is the moment. And I think this maybe is the guy that can do it. and his enthusiasm and his love for football and his love for winning, not in a cynical way, but in a really beautiful way.

22:52He loves to work out a way to win football matches and he doesn't believe in almost any circumstance that you can't win a football match.