Man Utd beat Liverpool as Mainoo scores winner in OT thriller!

21:22And even for a manager to come along and not rate you, in the last few months people were talking about, previously when he wasn't playing, about going out and loan. But I always said, no, sometimes you have to sit. Sit and learn and watch the game and watch the team. And yeah, if the manager doesn't fancy you, because the whole idea of being a footballer is proving people wrong. People will always doubt you. And I think the experience, because in football, it's about good and bad experiences. And I think he learned more from this last few months than when he first got on the team when he was getting all applauded.

21:52I think he's had to mature. He's obviously got a new deal now. He's got to learn his trade. He's still a young player. He's learning. He's got years before he even peaks. He's surrounded by experienced players. Hopefully they're helping him. So I think it was not a bad thing. The only worry is, but when people talk about is he explosive, I don't know, can you improve on that? Is that part of your game if you're not quick off the mark?

22:22If you're enjoying this podcast, there are plenty more from Sky Sports we think you'll love too. There's the Gary Neville podcast for Gary's immediate reaction to the biggest matches. Transfer Talk has the latest on all the big moves in and out of the Premier League and beyond. And for WSL fans, check out Pitch to Pod with Jordan Nobbs and Nikita Paris. Just search for Sky Sports wherever you get your podcasts. For now, though, let's get back to the Sky Sports Premier League podcast.

23:00Daniel Sturridge:Manchester United have edged Liverpool in the end by three goals to two. Arna Slot's side fought their way back into the second half after being two goals down at the interval. But Cobby Maynew had the final say in this contest. Let's get some Liverpool reaction though. Dominic Subozlai has been talking to Patrick Davidson. Well, Dominic, second half, you showed some real fight, which of course is a minimum for a Liverpool team. But overall, what are your feelings, your emotions as you stand here now? Not good as we go home with zero points. And after the first half, we shouldn't be happy at all.

23:41We should just take from this game at the beginning, from the second half, I think, because that's what we showed properly who we are. So that first-half performance, why was it so far short of what you're capable of as a team? You know, before the game, when you're speaking about set-pieces, don't concede, and then after, I don't know when the first goal happened, you concede from a set-piece. And then also you talk about contra-attacks, and then the second goal happens from a contra-attack. I don't know, we have to be more focused, we have to take care more of the details and in the end hopefully the luck is going to stay on our side.

24:25We saw you early in the second half, your goal, your assists try to really drag the team with you, show some leadership. Increasingly do you feel like that leadership role, helping some of the new players is a big part of your job with so many senior players? obviously not available today and they're not going to be around a couple of them next season? I have to ask the other ones. I try to do my best. I try to, as you say, drag them with me, take them with me and hopefully set an example day by day, game by game. And that's what I want to do. And that's going to be my plan for the last three games as well.

25:09Yeah, like Liverpool standards with the likes of Mo, Andy Robertson going, do they have to come from you now? I think so, yeah. But we have a lot of players who can set the example. I try to be one of them. And if it works, I'm happy. With a couple of games left of this season and obviously looking into next season, it's obviously been a difficult season this time around. Where do you think this team is at? How far off coming back and having a good season next time around? First, I don't focus on next year or next season, sorry. I focus on these three games because we have a lot of things to achieve in a way that we want to play Champions League next season because Liverpool belongs there.

25:57And then we'll see what happens in the future. Hopefully, this team can stay together as much as it's possible. And from there on, we'll see. Thank you. Thanks.

26:13Daniel Sturridge:Dominic, it's a Bosleyan conversation with Patrick Davidson. As you can see, Gary Neffeld and Jamie Carragher have joined us. We'll allow you a moment to settle. Daniel, I want to start with you on Liverpool today. In the end, making a contest of it, but how worried were you? Not just the way they started the game, but really throughout that first half. It was worrying. I felt as if again we can talk about control and possession and things but I think Man United just looks so threatening and I think for me what's concerning is the consistency of counter-attacks that they've been conceding of late no one really in the midfield or in the attack you could say who are stopping the play from the higher up in the pitch and the identity is just not there.

26:57Daniel Sturridge:I think they need to build a team that is in Arna's identity, but right now I'm not quite sure what that is, to be fair. Because there's... Before we knew with Jurgen, OK, cool, high press. I think with Arna, we're seeing a possession-based team who are slightly more methodical. But when you look at the statistics, we're looking at last season, Mo had an unreal year. This year, now, if you look at the statistics of the team and the stats are way down across the board. So my biggest concern is I don't want this team to just be relying on... You kind of want phases of play. And I think right now when you look at Liverpool, there's no phase of play where you can say, OK, they're going to do this, they're going to do this, and that's going to happen.

27:41Daniel Sturridge:Right now it's quite all over the place. Sorry, Dan, but I think we said before the show, I think you said and you mentioned there a little bit, we don't know what Liverpool are. But it's the point that we do know what they are and it's what we're seeing. Because it's not going to be like Klopp. and we can't be a club who continue for the next five or ten years saying, oh, we want Jürgen Klopp football. The fella's a genius. He does that football better than anybody. So whatever manager's going to come in, he's going to play his football. The worry is, not that there's no identity, that is the identity.

28:14That Liverpool, don't forget, aren't he sort of Dutch coach, Dutch way of doing things, possession, technical football. You think of the players that are being brought in, they're not Klopp players. So when people keep saying about, like, oh, it's the recruitment upstairs, well, that was the recruitment team who were there with Klopp. They're bringing a different style of players in. So it's on the manager that. And I go back to last year when Liverpool didn't sign anybody, but the one player he wanted was Zubamendi. Again, another technical footballer. Now, I'm not saying that doesn't work. The most successful team in the Premier League of the last 10 years have been a technical football team.

28:44But we're going away from what Jürgen Klopp was because this manager wants that. This is where he's taken this team. And that's the worry for me is, is this actually going to go more the other way or are we thinking Liverpool need to go back to last season or is Arne Slott thinking no we actually need more technical football I don't think so I think they need defensive midfield but you're talking about players but you also want about you don't know about style and identity but don't you all you want your teams to be dogged robust hard to beat like that's 11 defeats now for Liverpool having won the league last year like that's like a shocking stat 11 losses

29:17Daniel Sturridge:they're down a defensive midfielder for me First thought being two stop attacks Grava Birch prior to last season Wasn't looked at as the solution He's come in last year The manager's got the absolute best out of him And they've won the Premier League But they're still facing the same issues They faced two seasons prior Which was when you defence midfielders To Jamie's point he said Talked about Zubomendi Zubomendi's profile works But I think the type of player Liverpool need Is a protector in there that their first thought is to maybe stop attacks happening. And right now, they don't do that very well.

29:54I agree with you, John. That's exactly what I want. But I go back to when Jürgen Klopp wanted that, he went and signed Fabinho. That's a different profile to a Zubamendi. That's what I'm talking about when you've got different types of managers. Yes, Liverpool need a holding midfield player. They've been trying to buy one for the last four or five years. But it's what type of holding midfield player that you want. But within that framework, Gary, today,

30:12Daniel Sturridge:would there be individual performances that Liverpool should be worried about from that 11?

30:16Gary Neville:Yeah, look, I don't watch Liverpool as much as these two, but I've been quite supportive, obviously, with a slot and not seeing this sort of what would be drab football that Liverpool fans or sometimes Cara and Daniel have described. But for the first time watching them in that first half today, I thought you probably should be worried because when you look on the bench, I do think there is an element of Liverpool, though. We can't rewrite history of what we all thought at the start of the season, where we were all predicting them to win the league or get close. We were either having them first or second, all of us, probably.

30:43No, I didn't.

30:44Gary Neville:I think we all pretty much said, though, Liverpool will be first or second. And to me, if you look at it, they wanted Frimpong to replace Alexander-Arnold. They wanted Kerkes to replace Robertson. They wanted, obviously, the front players, Salah, to repeat his season from this year. They thought Eketike and Izak would score probably 60 goals between them. And Virts would just probably tuck in either off the left or in that midfield position and be a sensation. It hasn't worked. So the recruitment hasn't worked. And obviously there's been injuries as well. So they have tried to, I think, just to be fair, from last season, replace the players that they knew were ageing or needed to be replaced.

31:14Gary Neville:and those players that have come in other than Eketike really haven't settled. Kerkhez and Frimpong have not been anywhere near the levels of Robertson and Trent Alexander-Arnold at the best. Salah has been nowhere near the level of the previous Mo Salah. Eketike and Izac have been nowhere near the levels of Diaz probably and Jota and obviously Firmino or whatever it was a couple of years ago. So they just haven't settled in yet, the players that they've actually signed. And I can't work out whether it's a really bad situation for Liverpool or whether they just need to be patient and let these players emerge next season and become the players that maybe they are.

31:45Daniel Sturridge:Is that an individual problem or is that a coaching problem?

31:51Liverpool fans right now will say it's a coaching problem. But then that was the coach last year who won Liverpool in the league. All this idea that it was Klopp's team. Well, Klopp didn't win the league the year before. He didn't buy anyone. He changed things around slightly. But Graven-Berchdipe played Diaz through the middle, got a lot more from him. Got a lot more than Mo Salah. Jürgen Klopp had done maybe a couple of years before, given Mo Salah almost a free roll. but what Gary's saying and I agree and this is what the hierarchy at Liverpool will tell you they've both talented players they have now besides Trent and Frimpong because Trent's a better player than Frimpong wherever they've replaced other players there's no doubt the more talented the players they've got now but they're less industrious so obviously we had the tragic obviously situation with Jota but you think of Jota as a player you think of Nunes as a player you think of Diaz as a player not the greatest players in the world don't stop running But they don't stop running.

32:43They don't stop working. Now, is Izak a better player? Is Eketike more technical? Is Wirtz a better player? It's sort of technically... We'd say yes. But there's definitely something missing. And that's why I talk about changing the team and the profile of the team. But the one player, when you're saying, who I think's had a very easy ride, Florian Wirtz. And I think we shouldn't be just... I've never moved clubs. Lesser known in terms of moving country as well. but I think we've really sort of given him time and come on what are you going to do we've been kind to him haven't we very very kind to him what should you think of him today we should he was poor today and even if Liverpool played really well it's still Sir Bosley and even at times this season Salah Salah hasn't been the Salah of last season but he's still been one of Liverpool's best attackers it's I commentated on Liverpool away at Burnley I think it was about the fourth or fifth game of the season and I described Florian Vert as being neat and tidy and I was trying to be kind then I wouldn't describe him as anything different right now, he's a year into his Liverpool career

33:45Daniel Sturridge:I think that the issue is there is a transitional phase happening right now and it's difficult to see sorry, not just for flirt but the whole team that's what I'm talking about, I'm saying that when I look at the team, I think they're in a transitional phase where from an attacker's point of view whenever I've been at my best or whenever I've felt an attacker's been at his best, there's been consistency there's been individuals knowing how to get the best out of each other I think when I look at Wurtz Wurtz needs a connection with players he hasn't built a connection yet with the attackers you look at Bruno today and it's like I know where runs are going now I'm going to play that first time around the corner to Cesc and he's going to go on the end of it you don't really see you see maybe one game and then it will go for four or five and I think with Wurtz having natural centre forwards next season obviously Mo Salah is going to move on right He's got to be building a connection with Issa.

34:37Daniel Sturridge:That's got to be the first... Daniel, do you think he's got...

34:40Gary Neville:I think he's got the talent. Do you think he's got the personality verse on the pitch? I think about Bruno, 19 assists. And Bruno, sometimes we've had a go at him for his personality. But what you can't deny is his personality. He has got a personality. He stands up there and he actually puts himself out there on the pitch. His character's there for everyone to see. Has he got that personality verse to be able to go and grab a game or to be that player? That's the only thing I don't see quite now. Now, he is youngish, but has he got the personality? I think you'd have to give him a bit more time.

35:05I think he does. I think so. I think he does. We mentioned him long ago. There was players like that in attacking position on midfield. People like Modric. I'm going back years ago. The first year or two, you'd be writing these lads off and then they end up being great players. So I think there is a talent there. But I agree with Daniel. He's got to build up some sort of relationship with some attacking players, another pre-season and a stronger looking Liverpool next year.

35:26Daniel Sturridge:Beaten today, 24 points down on this stage last season. Here is Arna Slott with Patrick Davison. Well, Arna, some fight and some resilience shown in that second half, but when you think about why you've lost that game, what's at the forefront of your mind? That we weren't able to control their strengths. We were aware of the fact that they have many strengths, but two of them were definitely the set-pieces and the other one is the counter-attack. The first goal we conceded was a set-piece. and the second one you have to know where to lose a ball if you play against United who were at that particular moment in a low block they're really strong and aggressive when you play the ball into the middle with the Casemiro's main who's in their centre-backs and then you lose it they have so many fast players and of course Bruno Fernandes to hurt you in transition and that's exactly what happened in the second goal and then we were 2-0 down came back in the second half to 2-2 But as always we were able to switch off in one moment and immediately concede the goal.

36:33So did you have the sense in the first half that you had a lot of the ball but they had almost all the threat? Yes, that's exactly what it is. We had a lot of ball possession and that's probably also what they give you, as I said. They have many strengths but one of the strengths is also defending in the low block and then Pelé the counter-attack. and that's also why in the second half I tried to play a bit more on both sides with wingers because we went in the first half a little bit too much through the middle and then they can counter-attack you. By bringing Florian off the left in the second half, we could play maybe a bit more around and it helped, of course, that we immediately scored the 2-1.

37:15Were there too many familiar problems today? I mean, obviously the injuries which you can't do too much about with a concedent from the set piece. I think you said, as always, or again, it's switching off at a moment where you've got back to 2-2 and it's a late-ish goal you've conceded once more. Yeah, I don't think anyone expected maybe us to lose that game after the 2-2, although if you look at our whole season, maybe you do, because you know that usually when a team comes back to 2-2 and is that well into the game, so that playing that well, then usually the expectation is more that that team would score.

37:50But as I've shown so many times this season, when we are playing well and we are coming back into the game, we think we are able to win it, then in one moment we switch off and Kroos being given two goals where we didn't win the header at the second post. The ball fell for Manu and a great finish from him. Any complaints about the second goal? I'm guessing not, you haven't raised it, but if you really magnify it, it looks like it probably does brush his fingertips. Yeah, if it is a touch, it's never a lot, of course. Then you can argue, if you just watch football, you can argue, should it be disallowed?

38:32Then yes or no, if the touch is so light. But yeah, if it was a touch, then it should have been disallowed. But I don't think... I want to focus on how we conceded that second goal because that's where we can do better. but in the end then if you concede it and the VAR is going to check it then we all know this season what the outcome for Liverpool is. So longer term then led by you next season how do you fix some of these familiar failings that we feel like we've seen throughout this campaign? Yeah I think the margins are not so big between us being able to win a game like this and not and I know quite clearly what we need to improve and we are already working these weeks hard on that because we have a bit more training time now and as you said, the same issues mainly come back and that's not a complete surprise because there's not a lot you can change during the season of course, tactically and these kind of things you can change certain things but for us, for me, it's quite clear where we have to improve and we will improve next season.

39:44Can you share some of that with us? No. That's unlike you. You're as honest a manager as there is in terms of sharing that kind of thing. So why not this time? Yeah, because that doesn't make sense to share that this time. All right. Thank you.

40:01Daniel Sturridge:Interesting thoughts from Arne Slott, who had a pretty expensive summer, or Liverpool did last time round but do you think they can buy their way out of this again and which way would be the focus well people have been desperate for Liverpool or certainly Liverpool support has been desperate to spend real big money the way they've maybe seen Manchester City in the past or Chelsea in one summer and everyone was excited in the summer and I did say I think we were together it didn't feel Liverpool like to me or certainly the Liverpool way that they've done for the last 10 years and how they got to the top of the Jurgen Klopp and it felt very almost Real Madrid, you know, going by the best players for the most money.

40:42I want Liverpool to go back to buying the right players for the right money and what Liverpool needed right now. And they won't be able to do what they did last summer. They wouldn't have that type of revenue. They don't need to bring six or seven players in because, again, it's more change. But I do think there's three players that need to go right into the team for me. Replace Mo Salah, a right winger, a right back for me and a centre midfield player. And then the players that you brought last summer, as Roy just mentioned, you're talking about Izak, Ekotike, Vert, they become better players a year on.

41:08Daniel Sturridge:Which of those three becomes the most important, do you think, to help Liverpool improve? You've got to replace Mo, for sure, because the goals. And we can say that Isak and Ekotike are going to do that, but you have to build the team. You have to pick one of those guys and go, we're building our attack around this guy. So are you buying a winger that's going to be a supplier to get the best out of the two? I know what Arnaz Lott's hinted that Isak, to get the best out of him, need someone who's actually not going to come inside and shoot but actually going to try and cross.

41:38Gary Neville:Is the young lad not going to be so... He looks pretty talented, isn't he?

41:41Daniel Sturridge:Ryo? Yeah. Ryo's fantastic. I like him off the left. He can play both wings, obviously, but I like him off the left. I think the defensive midfield area is something that Liverpool have been missing for years. We had Fabinho, we had... I think the midfield that we had of previous years, I think psychologically were already more defensive. We had Hendel, we had Milner, we had Fabinho, we had Genie who sort of sacrificed his attacking play because when he came from Newcastle, he was a goal scorer. But then he came in and became more of a workhorse. And I think when you look now, you sort of see Gravabert, who's kind of in between, more of a Genie.

42:15Daniel Sturridge:You've got McAllister, who I'm not 100%, he's kind of in between. And Sobba's light, I think, is more of an attacking, pressing, kind of more in like an Emre channel. I'm not saying they're the same, but Emre was more of a worker, back and forth, back and forth, sprint, sprint, sprint. I think with Liverpool now, they need to go, we need a guy to come in and allow for Virts to be free. Because if you play Virts in the 10, the two midfielders need to be defensive. I think when I think of Florian Virts, they're not going to get rid of Florian Virts. They spend a lot of money on them. And I think if you've got a player like that who's so small, probably doesn't cover the ground, not the quickest, everybody around them needs to be able to run.

42:52You've almost got, passengers is the wrong word, but luxury, if you like. Liverpool have got too many like that without the ball. I think a Curtis Jones, that lovely footballer, McAllister's saying, then you've got Florian Vert in the team. For me, I'd only want one in the team. But again, I go back to Arne Slott and the way he wants to play footballer, almost a Dutch way of playing football. I don't think he will see it like that. I think he'll still want more technical footballers in there. I think Liverpool lack physicality to cope with the Premier League, whether that was set pieces for a lot of this season and also dealing with counter-attacks.

43:23Gary Neville:It's going to be a real battleground, that midfield transfer window, because United need two, obviously Liverpool need one. As it was a couple of years ago, remember, when Liverpool were trying to buy Lavia? Yeah, you could argue that Arsenal may want to look at someone who can support Zubimendi. Obviously, they played Louis Skelly in there yesterday. So there's element City, I think, are out in there for one to back up Rodri. So I think you'll be four top clubs in the country all looking for these types of players. Do you think that's where that feeling of softness has crept in with Liverpool?

43:50Gary Neville:Oh, definitely. And I think, and obviously we saw it today, and I think the worst insult you can have for a team as a player when people say you're easy to play against, and Liverpool are. certainly this year in your obviously 11 league losses you were saying 19 in total if teams are thinking you're easy to play against that's an insult if you're one of the bigger clubs on the back of winning the league I think that will hurt Liverpool and the manager more than anything else

44:12Daniel Sturridge:Can I ask you a question from a midfielder's point of view right how do you perceive breaking a counter-attack or stopping a counter-attack in that midfield area? Decision making been in the right position we spoke about players making decision making when Liverpool scored the first goal making fouls at the right time the decision making making sure you're not getting ahead of the ball we saw United make that mistake with the first goal two minutes getting forward just football intelligence always have the ball ahead of you and that comes from more experience I learned that more as I got a bit older you won't find Manu having that in his game just quite yet but if you're if you want to try to stop that counter attack stop it at source decision making foul and we see City doing a lot or Arsenal and again the softness with Liverpool is even in their decision making when to make the fouls and get in your position the right place.

45:01I mean, again, I've been able to cover the ground.

45:03Gary Neville:Right, when you think about counterattacks, you can either stop them, but one thing you have to do is delay them. And actually today, Liverpool were never delaying the counterattacks. Do you know what I mean? They were always in a position where, because sometimes a midfield player, Roy's in midfield, say, on his own, and let's say there's two centre-halves behind him and there's two or three breaking, they've just got to hold the ground. You're slow them up. Yeah, slow them up and delay. And I don't think Liverpool delayed the counterattacks, let alone win the ball back.

45:27Daniel Sturridge:We started right at the very top of the show talking about this being a hugely important day, not just for the clubs, but for the two managers, one who's already in there and won a title and one who's trying to become the permanent manager of Manchester United. We'll come on to Michael Carrick. But in terms of Arna Slott, Jamie's already said that he pretty much thinks he will be in there next season. How far are you in Arna Slott's camp right now in terms of would you be concerned about him if he didn't start the season well next season after another summer of recruitment? I can't think that too far ahead.

46:00I think the most important thing for Arnestlat is to come up with a solution for the problems this season.

46:06Daniel Sturridge:But you would trust him to do that, would you? Of course, you have to. He's won the Premier League last season. Yeah, cool. This season have not been as good as they are. They're in the top four right now. Get Champions League football. You regroup. You decide on a framework. The players who you believe are with you and the players who you truly trust and build around them. You've got to give the man time to implement the philosophy he has now. We're seeing a legacy player in Mo Salah moving on now. The team was effectively, the attack was built around him. Robertson, the mainstay at left-back.

46:36Daniel Sturridge:Of course, this season, Kirk has come in and they've lost other players over this season. Diaz was a focal point. So now you've got a pre-season with Isak who you'd like to believe will be fit for pre-season. Because last time he was away and he was training on his own. and then with Eketike, unfortunately, he's going to be recovering still. So you're really going to be going into pre-season thinking we've got Verts, we've got Eketike, a new right winger and Rio and Ngakpo. That's your attack right now with Eketike probably coming back the back end of next season. So are you getting there quicker?

47:08Daniel Sturridge:Sorry, back end of the new year. But will you have much of a pre-season because of the World Cup? Well, it'll be pretty short, won't it? It will be. It's about three weeks. The Premier League season is pushed back a little bit. They'll have a little bit, depending on how far they go. But are you going to get there quicker? Well, I'll ask you, Gary. Do you think Liverpool are going to get there quicker by changing their manager or sticking, keeping faith with Alan Slott?

47:28Gary Neville:They know more of that internally. The question I would ask is, Cara just said last summer felt very un-Liverpool-like, obviously signing all those players. And I sort of agree with him because Liverpool have been very shrewd. They weren't shrewd last summer. They were almost blatant in terms of what they did. It would be more un-Liverpool-like for them to sack a manager that has won a league 12 months ago and finished in the Champions League in his second season. That would probably feel more un-Liverpool-like than the actual buyers last summer. so it is a decision Does that mean they shouldn't do it?

47:54No, you should just do what you think is right for the club but we're in a situation now where there's think about the teams who are looking for a manager so Real Madrid biggest club in the world looking for a manager Manchester United are not quite sure what they're doing Chelsea looking for a manager and I go back to what happened in the middle of the season those three clubs I've just mentioned all sacked a manager in the middle of the season and they ended up with Abelhoa never managed before Carrick who come here managed at Middlesbrough and young Razzini Njerku was, I mean, it was too big a jump where he'd come from.

48:24So that tells you those managers that we all associate maybe 10, 15, 20 years ago, these big managers with big names in Champions League winners, maybe they're not quite around at the moment. Maybe it's, you know, those figures aren't there right now.

48:36Gary Neville:Xabi Alonso is available though, isn't he? Yeah, and I think that's the one where I think that's making Liverpool fans a little bit more thinking, oh, we do want to miss out on him. He could be one of the new up-and-coming special managers. Yes, I think they do in terms of what we see in this season. but I think when Liverpool have won a league title and what I would say is don't forget that man had the courage to take home from Jurgen Klopp I'm sure there were other managers Liverpool were talking to and thinking I don't want to go after Klopp so going to win the league straight after Klopp is pretty special now again was that down more to Mo Salah you could argue that this season am I worried about Liverpool where they got one yeah I am and I said to Daniel off air I think a big thing for me will be what they do in midfield I think if they're going to get a really technical footballer to go in there that might worry me a little bit really about where this team's going because I think Liverpool need a little bit more physicality and I do worry Who would that be, Cara?

49:30Gary Neville:Who would that be, McNeil? Well, if there's talk of maybe let's say for instance in the Premier League Adam Warne lovely footballer wand of a left foot and you can imagine him getting lovely passes into Florian Wirtz but I'd really worry about him running back towards my own goal and stopping a counter-attack Do you understand what I mean? Now, Liverpool they almost need somebody who can do everything you know you think of like Declan Rice or Arsenal or Kaysad or Chelsea where are these players about but I think it would be really interesting what Liverpool do recruitment wise in the summer not who they buy as such or how much they spend but the profile of player because they've gone for real talent and it just hasn't worked it's blew up in the face

50:15Gary Neville:Hi, I'm Tamsin Greenway And I'm Tracey Neville And we've teamed up this season for Sky Netball's Off the Court podcast Join us every week as we shoot through the hottest topics in Netball We'll bring you everything you need to know from the Super League to the Super Shop All building towards the Commonwealth Games make sure you give Off The Court a follow where you listen to your podcasts or you can even find us on YouTube that's Off The Court, a Sky Sports podcast

50:46Welcome back to the Sky Sports Premier League podcast let's get back to the studio for more reaction to today's game

50:56Daniel Sturridge:10 wins from 14 in charge for Michael Carrick Manchester United are back in the Champions League and have taken the scalp of their big rivals, Liverpool, today. First time they've done a double over them for a decade. Here he is with Patrick Davison. Well, Michael, job done. That task you were given back in January to get Manchester United back into the Champions League. You've accomplished it. Firstly, really proud of that. Yes, and in some ways, I think the work that's been done and the players, the way they've performed, and the teams that we've played against and got good results against, I think it's something that we can take a lot from, for sure.

51:42I think the Champions League felt in the distance a little bit, if we're honest, at one point. There's been a lot of good work to put us in a position with games to go in that seal, but it's not something we spoke about as a group, really. I think it's not something we over-celebrate. I think it's a step. We want more. We want to be finishing higher up the league. But certainly there's huge credit. It goes to the players and the staff for putting us in this position at this stage. It certainly looked like a bit of a mountain when you first came into it. I think sick, but City to come, Arsenal to come, and actually a hallmark of your time in charge has been the big games you've won.

52:23Why do you think you've been so successful against the best sides? Good players helps. Good manager as well? Good coaches, good staff. I think the connection that we've all had together has been pretty special. We've had to do it in different ways. We've won games in different ways and different challenges. Today was a different one again.

52:46You just keep trying to do the right things and understanding of what it means to be here. The players have taken everything on board so well. As I said, to do it with games to spare like we have, that's one thing. and we want to keep kicking on and finish the season strong. Particularly first half, were you able to impose your strengths on Liverpool, the quick transitions, counter-attacks? Even though I think they had more of the ball, you looked by far more threatened inside. Yeah, we've scored a lot of goals. We've scored, I think, pretty much in every game. So I think a big focus of ours has been, if anything, is the out-of-possession work and trying to be harder to play against over a period of time and we knew they played a lot of midfielders today and to take the ball and trying to control the game like that, that gave us a big challenge and then obviously we try and put our strengths into the game and I thought we started the game brilliant, I thought we started the game against Brentford really good as well and I'm just as pleased as the way we finished the game to be honest, I think after two setbacks quickly it could have knocked us but the character and the belief the boys showed and the actual quality of the play after that was really good.

54:02Mistakes happen. Two fantastic players who give us a lot to put us in this position. It's part of football and fortunately for everyone, we managed to come out on top today. What is the key then? After one was giving them two goals, what's the key to refocusing in that moment? I think that's when you go back to the underlying feeling of belief and it's tested in their moments and we can all talk about it but I think that connection with the players willingness to work hard for each other and sacrifice for each other and all benefit from it and if someone makes a mistake we'll help them out and it's part of football and that's the ultimate the quality of football the tactics is one side of it but the actual mentality and the attitude towards it gets you through difficult and challenging times.

54:53For that period, of course it was challenging and I thought we finished so strong. I remember speaking to you after the Arsenal victory and part of the thing that really seemed to excite you then is that you said you could add layers to what you'd already accomplished. When you look ahead with this group, tactically, maybe in terms of personnel, can you see so many ways this team can still improve, so many layers you can still add? It's really encouraging. I think in our little league, if you like, for the 14 games, we must be top, if not near the top. That in itself is a lot of things that the boys have done really, really well.

55:30And of course, we want to keep improving of little bits, but I think we can't underestimate what the boys have done in that period of time in different ways, which has pleased me the most and gives us that flexibility moving forward. And of course, to add those layers, you're going to need a new contract. So, cup of tea, new contract, maybe ahead in the next few days, few weeks. We can still add a few ladies in the next couple of weeks or so, so we'll begin with that. What happens now though, Michael, with this objective ticked off? You want to say, I think you've made that pretty clear, so what happens next?

56:07What would you like to happen next? It's not about what I like or not like. It's a little bit. Yeah, in some ways it's not in my control. Everything has gone so well. I think we all know the situation where we are. I'm happy we're where we are at the moment. We still want to get better and let's see what happens next. At this moment in time, it's not something I'm really thinking about. Just one last one. Sesko, how is he and how was the injury caused? He's been carrying a bit of a chin problem for some time. It was when he got pushed over into the ball and down the dip. and it was right on the spot that he's been kind of carrying a little bit.

56:47So that was it. Thank you.

56:51Daniel Sturridge:Cheers. Michael Carrick, after his team beat Liverpool twice in a season for the first time in a decade. So he has done the job he was brought in to do. He has delivered Champions League football for Manchester United. So should he be put out of his misery in terms of the future? He's done what was asked to do. Yeah, he's doing what, and again, if he can finish the season strongly, He's gotten a really good habit of winning football matches, which is good. Ten out of 14. Yeah, brilliant. Fantastic. And we can sit here and analyse the game and look at the issues they've got, which I'm sure him and his staff are doing.

57:24But if you're in that dressing room, you've won the game. You'll be pleased, obviously, because that's what he's there to do. Again, the remit was to get in that Champions League. He's done it. He's just a pressure on everyone at the club. And, yeah, he's gone along nicely. Is it a different question to ask you whether you'd like that to happen? Yeah, no, I still think, and I'm sure United are looking at other options out there, but why do they look at the options as he's winning football matches and it gives them a hell of a chance of getting a job Are the options falling away?

57:50Daniel Sturridge:Is he emerging as not the only candidate but the outstanding candidate now?

57:55Gary Neville:Yeah I mean there's no one being linked either there's no one sort of being strongly linked with the job I think Michael's put himself in pole position because of obviously what he's done he's re-established a few things a bit of I think the way the club are playing in terms of the system of play I think even today it was a bit Manchester United like going 2-0 up then 2-2 than winning it in a difficult way. So the things that I think have emerged on and off the pitch, which I think will give the club comfort that they're in safe hands, and Manchester United need some stability. They haven't had a lot of stability over the last few years, and he will bring that from a point of view that everybody trusts him.

58:28Gary Neville:Fans like him, the players obviously like him, the club and the staff will trust him. It's just that, we've just talked about it on the podcast, next year he's going to have 55, 60 games with Champions League, with the FA Cup, they're not going to go out in the first round surely, and the Carabao Cup. And then it's all a sort of different level of management, different level of scrutiny. It becomes a lot more challenging. And it's then, has he got the experience, obviously? Has he got the body of work behind him to rely upon? That's the only question I think that I've talked about for a number of months.

58:57Gary Neville:But, you know, some people say, well, why don't you give him a year contract and let him have a further year just to sort of what we stabilise the club? And I don't think I can argue with that. But if a world-class manager became available that has won titles, that has been in the Champions League, that's done it and been there before. Manchester United should probably pursue that route because their last five managers, including Michael, Oli, Ralf Ranić, Ruben Amarim and Eric Ten Hag, have not got that super club experience and Michael would be another that's not quite got that.

59:24Daniel Sturridge:These are fans, incidentally, who are voting on the analysis poll. The Manchester United fans, 77 % think now he should be the manager next season, whereas only 28 % of Liverpool fans think that Arnaz Schlott should be the manager of Liverpool. So they're going to take some convincing. But what doubts should remain, Daniel, do you think, for Michael Carrico as he answered them all? Just the experience, I think. I think that's the one thing. We can't, you know, disregard how well he's done. The hardest thing is to win football matches at big clubs consistently. That's what he's done, he's won the most points.

59:57Daniel Sturridge:So the evidence is there. We didn't have evidence. We were arguing a poor case, aren't we? But the case he's made for himself can't be beaten right now. The only question marks you could really say is, OK, controlling games last week. yeah, substitute half-time, he's changing formation, this, that. Would you have the answers against Real Madrid? Would you have the answers against Bayern Munich, PSG, teams like that? So tactically, you think there is still a lot of questions? I'm not saying tactics. I didn't say tactics. I'm more so saying that decisions at vital times, vital moments. Last week, it went right, right?

1:00:25Daniel Sturridge:But in another game, they could score two or three, and then it's like, hey, why'd you go three at the back? We should have... So it's more the decision-making at right times. That's what I think the best managers are great at. They make the right decision at the right time. They'd be brave, which he's shown at times, but we've not seen it in a long duration of time. We're seeing this in a microcosm. So let's have a look next year, if he does get the job, and see what ideas he can bring to the table. I've been enjoying seeing them play, and it's a great opportunity for him. And it'll be interesting this summer, United's recruitment.

1:00:56We're talking about the problems at the back, and obviously midfield. If they get a few players in, United will be stronger, and obviously that will give them a better opportunity to win more football matches. The issue is, and again, that's not his problem, the last few months there's been no jeopardy in Man United's play he had a remit to qualify for the Champions League but we're looking at the Premier League this year and it's not been that great and so it's been the perfect storm for him to come in and get some winning matches he had a dream start playing beating Man City and Arsenal and stuff so he got momentum but yeah he's doing what he's been asked to do but it's just that lack of experience again come next year if he gets it and the people who are praising him now come October, November if they have a bad start or difficult spell they'll be the same people saying get him out so that's I suppose that's a bridge and cross when you get to it but he can't do any more I suppose From what you've seen Jamie

1:01:41Daniel Sturridge:of the way that he's shaped this team over these 14 games can he turn them into title contenders? No I don't see it thinking that Michael Carrick's the man to get Manchester United back to win the Champions League or the Premier League but I do feel he should get the job not because he's done so well and he deserves it Manchester United should do what's best for them as a club but you think where United have been these last sort of two or three years they haven't just been a club underachieving they've been a club getting laughed at really finishing 15th last season you can't quite comprehend that now what he's done has just calmed everything down where the winning games they should win Manchester United should always be in the Champions League position when you consider how big the club is and the revenue they spend each summer that's what he's done he's just done what they should do probably a little bit more of course winning all these big games and I think Manchester United could do another year of that I don't think Manchester United in the summer are ready to go and think they're going to challenge for the Champions League or challenge for the Premier League.

1:02:39They almost need another year of this. And I think the risk of changing somebody who is not going to cause trouble in the press conference, he's not going to fall out with players, he's probably going to be steady. Now, is steady enough for Man United? I just think for another 12 months it is. You kick the can down the road, Real Madrid are looking for a manager, Chelsea are looking for a manager, maybe Man City might be looking for a manager as well. and then you assess the managerial options. Because right now, what you're saying in terms of a big Champions League manager, yes, if Luis Enrique comes available tomorrow, of course you do everything you can to get him.

1:03:11But who is that man? You know what?

1:03:12Daniel Sturridge:I've got a question for Roy and Gary here. Next season, right, because he's got Champions League this year, that was the main focal point, that was the most important thing. What would the expectations be next year? So if he does get the job, what would you consider? Or even the fan base, what would the fan base consider to be a successful season? I think that's the board, what the remit would be. Would they expect him to... I think, obviously, the board made such a poor decision with the last decision, they're probably frightened they're making another big mistake. So maybe Carrick is that safe pair of hands.

1:03:43But surely, anyone who gets the job next year would be expecting to compete to win the league.

1:03:49Gary Neville:The journey that sort of Jurgen Klopp at Liverpool and Matt Michal at Arsenal, which is where they'll finish with a Premier League title up, but they have progressed and looking like they're getting closer every year for a few years before they finally went and won it. it would need to be progression, wouldn't it, beyond what we're seeing now?

1:04:02Daniel Sturridge:Was that the basis of that not a one-year contract, but that's this guy is our guy for six years, and we're going to stick with him regardless of what happens?

1:04:09Gary Neville:Look, I'll be adamant, Manchester United won't go and do that six-year thing. That would just be absolutely laughter. I mean, two years, three years maybe, because obviously that doesn't seem like a commitment. But what's the point, what Jamie's argument was,

1:04:19Daniel Sturridge:that you don't go and find that sort of the world-class manager. You stick with this, which is safe and solid. Is that what Manchester United are looking for?

1:04:28Gary Neville:If you can't go and win the title. But I mentioned the name like a couple of weeks ago, Nagelsmann, right? So I don't know anything about Nagelsmann from a point of view of doing due diligence on him to see whether he would be the right fit for Manchester United. But he's been at RP Leipzig, which is an incredible coaching ground. He's obviously done well at Bayern Munich. He's obviously won things. He's now managing Germany in a tournament. He's got a body of experience over 10 years that says this guy has worked in an elite environment. Now, if he becomes available after the World Cup, as an example, could he be the person?

1:04:54Gary Neville:and what I do say about the Premier League title and I think it is to be fair far-fetched that Manchester United will win it next season or the year after but I do think at that point when Pep leaves or at that point where they get maybe if they were to be charged with some of the more serious offences and got some points deduction it would be up for grabs properly in the next 12 to 18 months of the Premier League title and at the moment all I said on the podcast which he laughed at was that Liverpool aren't quite there right now Chelsea aren't quite there right now Newcastle aren't there right now Tottenham aren't quite there so Arsenal are But if City were to obviously dip, who's going to step in and be that club that emerges out of that?

1:05:29Gary Neville:Now, my view is you've got to appoint a manager that you think has the ability to exploit that moment. Now, I don't know if that's Michael Carrick or whether that's Nagelsmann or whether that's Pochettino or whether that's going to, you know, someone. But I'm not doing the due diligence. I'm not going around saying who's the best person to get it right. But that's what they have to be looking at. Who's there to go and exploit the situation?

1:05:49Daniel Sturridge:That's an interesting point you raise. And we will just take a short break. And when we come back, we will deal with that question and say, if there is a vacuum or of these two clubs, who's more likely to go and challenge next season or maybe even the year after?

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1:06:46Daniel Sturridge:But a lot tighter, I think, than Gary might have thought at one stage. 2-0, you might be thinking, oh, revenge here on the seven.

1:06:53Gary Neville:I wasn't thinking seven, but I thought for half an hour gone, 2-0 up, I thought, go and score that third and fourth before half-time. I thought they were there for the taking at that point. Second half was a bit of a mess for half an hour.

1:07:03Daniel Sturridge:And it gave us a much more interesting second half than it might have been. The question I posed before the break, so both of these teams are on 20 league titles. So, Daniel, who gets to 21 first? Who's closer? I think Liverpool. I do. because I have belief in the players they've signed. I think that they will come good and we'll see them figure out a formation, figure out how to get the best out of them. They've got to make, you know, some pivotal signings, but I actually truly believe in the quality of the players they've got going on, specifically in the attack, that they win your games at the end of the day, you know.

1:07:45Daniel Sturridge:So I think Liverpool. Are you as confident? probably not as confident but I would say in terms of where Manchester United are right now if you're comparing the two as you've just mentioned I would say Liverpool are in a much better place I think Manchester United will finish above Liverpool this season but I think that was probably United's best team all the talent was on the pitch we know Liverpool have got a few injuries and that's part and parcel of the game but Liverpool have still got players in the squad who've won trophies who've been there before and when you think of all the teams this season who maybe haven't had good seasons Liverpool would definitely be one you'd think of Chelsea as well they've had European competition they've had Liverpool have got to later on in the cup competition think Chelsea in the FA Cup final I think with Manchester United or certainly Manchester United fans have got to be a little bit careful not getting too carried away because it's just one game a week it's a completely different landscape when you're playing European football Man United should be getting to the quarter semi-finals of cup competitions and that will probably happen next season and I think for Manchester United if they've got Champions League football next season that would still be a really good job whoever came in as manager because it will not be like that next season and I think the other teams in the league won't be as poor You're nodding safety there Roy I mean we shouldn't forget the last time Manchester United were playing in Europe they finished 15th Yeah well they are to the mans but again if you're playing for the big club that's what you're expecting you're expecting to be in cup competitions you're expected to be in Europe you need to be robust you should be able to play three games a week United have played what far this year 40 maximum so yeah physically that's a lot easier for the team to cope with so yeah that's why it's kind of it's no shock or surprise United have qualified for the Champions League because I know the demands there's been no jeopardy in their games and no real pressure pressure playing for Man United winning games of course but not if they lose today it's going to be you know might cost them the league title they don't have that pressure but we go back to recruitment I think if United by a couple of defenders and a couple of midfielders then yeah there will be improvement of course there will because their recruitment has improved.

1:09:48That's been a big issue for the last four or five years. But last summer, the attacking players they brought in, players who were used to the premiership, and that's the word I would use, the lads who were robust, who were used to their demands. And of course, there's going to be a lot more demands next year because you'd expect them to go forward, obviously in the cup competition, domestic, and they've got the Champions League to come with it. And obviously, a lot of these top players are also playing international matches. So that'll be the challenge next year. But hopefully, the club and the team will be ready for it with a strong enough squad.

1:10:13What's your take on this, Gary? I get the sense that you feel there might be an opportunity.

1:10:17Gary Neville:No, I mean, look, there's a couple of real unknowns. How both managers, if it's Michael Carrick, which we think it probably will be, and on a slot, basically start next season. And the second unknown is basically which club's going to recruit better this summer. So United are going to sign three or four and Liverpool are going to sign three or four. And the third unknown probably is how much money has each club got to actually recruit in the summer? We don't quite know really, you know, with Liverpool, whether they can go again and spend 150, 200 and whether United can go again and spend, you know, 150, 200.

1:10:43Gary Neville:The three unknowns are there, and obviously whoever managerially, who's got the most money and who gets the recruitment right, will have a massive impact in terms of who's better next season. I do think the league could be up for grabs in the next couple of years. And what I'd like to think is that, I'm a United fan, that Manchester United could be the club that could exploit that. Because I do think at some point Pep has to leave, and I do think at the moment the big clubs aren't quite right. Arsenal are obviously ahead of everybody at the moment. But I do think that who's going to challenge Arsenal when Pep leaves?

1:11:12Gary Neville:who's going to it could be Manchester City again but if they get those points deduction which could come in if they were to have what would be some of those more serious charges you know pressed on then there is a there is a potential league title up for grabs in the next sort of one to two years so I'd like to think it's United but it depends on those unknowns at the very beginning with Liverpool Liverpool can't rely upon the experience of basically you know Salah's going to leave they've all left Robertson's going to leave I think Van Damme left You haven't even got a manager right honestly when you talk about United Honestly, it's unbelievable.

1:11:43We've just done this on the podcast,

1:11:44Gary Neville:so you can see this twice. Honestly. Right, so Van Dijk... When you talk about United, you need to go and see someone. Van Dijk's got a year left. Alisson's got a year left. Robertson's leaving. Salah's left. Trent Alexander-Arnold's left. There's very few players left in 12 months for Liverpool. They have to build a new team that won't have won the titles that obviously they have won before. So, you know, Liverpool's recruitment's going to have to be good, and it has been good in the past, and the manager's going to have to obviously settle down next season. There you go, it's available.

1:12:09Daniel Sturridge:You can watch it.

1:12:12Gary Neville:We beat them twice this season. We finished above them in the league. And he's still sat there saying Liverpool are better. What more can United do? Don't get kidded about United finishing third. You've had no European, no cup competition. You've done really well this season in terms of where you've ended up. Don't get kidded by it. What about congratulations? What about some humility? How can you say you think Manchester United in the next year or two could win the league title? You haven't even got a manager yet. You've got players who've played there. They've never played three games in a week, as Roy said.

1:12:39the things that have got to come over the next year or two What if Bruno, would you be worried about Bruno? His best player will be 33

1:12:46Gary Neville:If Bruno under summer, would he get his head turned again? I think he'll stay I think what they'll do is they'll give him a new contract and he'll stay is what I think I think that to be fair If he was going to leave I think he'd have left last summer when we were 15th and obviously weren't in Europe this season I think the fact he's actually dug in and said I want to fulfil my dreams here means I think he will stay I'm just worried that he's another year older and he'd be aware of the World Cup and the lads would be in his ear about Saudi and this might be my opportunity to... Can you congratulate Manchester United this season?

1:13:16Gary Neville:Thank you very much.

1:13:18Daniel Sturridge:They were so calm and then the musk slipped to the final moment, didn't they?

1:13:26Daniel Sturridge:See more of it on the Gary Nibble podcast featuring James Carragher, available... The Gary Nibble podcast. Wherever you get your podcasts. Gentlemen, thank you very much. Roy, Daniel, thank you. I'm sorry that our calm was interrupted by Gary and Jamie. One note of caution here this afternoon, and it was a worrying development, was that Sir Alex Ferguson, who attended the game, wasn't actually here to see it because he was taken by ambulance to hospital for precautionary checks. And this is what Michael Carrick had to say on that just a few moments ago. I haven't gotten any updates so I don't know the latest as we stand now I did hear about it before the game so I was aware before the game all I can say is I wish him and thought so I was very kind of affected by it the news and we just hope he's alright I just don't know the latest what we hope for him to be in good shape and we wish him all the best I'm certainly thinking of him and hopefully the result when he hears about it, you know, gives him a good boost.

1:14:37Daniel Sturridge:And of course, we all send our best wishes as well to Sir Alex Ferguson.

1:14:45Daniel Sturridge:Jamie Carragher's Monday Night Football is on tomorrow. Not featuring Gary Neville. Featuring Thierry Henry. Well, we've got two games for you. Chelsea Forest is a three o 'clock kick-off, run out at 2.30 for that. and we're also bringing you full Monday Night Football coverage of Everton's game against Manchester City. City got a bit of work to do, catching up. Six points behind now after Arsenal's two victories, but remember they play the next two games in that title race. Championship playoff semifinals start on Friday. We've also in May got international cricket for you, the PGA Championship with Europe looking to get their hands on the trophy or a European.

1:15:22Daniel Sturridge:It's been a while since Rory McIlroy back in 2014. team playoff final championship, May 23rd, the Premier League final day the following day. On May the 24th, you'll see all 10 games on that final day live on Sky Sports. And following us, we gave you a little teaser of it earlier. Terrific watch this. Mo Salah, when he was king as the Premier League icon departs Anfield. That is following us next on Sky Sports. You're missing. You're missing. Jamie's dashing home to see that. And I think Gary might be very fast behind him as well. Thank you again, gentlemen. And what a great day it's been in the end for Manchester United.

1:16:02Daniel Sturridge:Three-two winners here over Liverpool. They are back in the Champions League. And now they face a major decision. Good night from us.

1:16:23code.