Midweek Madness! Haaland Makes History, Limping Liverpool, Arsenal in Autopilot, Chelsea Stunned

0:13Hello and welcome to the Two Robbies podcast, your destination for in-depth discussion and analysis of the Premier League. I'm Robbie Musto, and he's not Robbie Earl, but instead a special guest host, Danny Higginbotham, joins us for today's show. Here are today's topics. Arsenal keep the title race in cruise control and drift by Brentford with a 2-0 win at the Emirates. Chelsea follow up their impressive draw against Arsenal on the weekend with a shocking 3-1 loss to Leeds United that hinders their title hopes. Arnazlott's frustrations continue to simmer after a 1-1 draw downfield against Sunderland.

0:47Christian Romero's brace helps Thomas Frank and Spurs spare their blushes in entertaining 2-2 draw at Newcastle. And Erling Haaland sets Premier League history in a wild and wacky 5-4 win at Fulham. That's what we have coming up in today's episode. Danny, Danny, thanks so much for coming on, mate. It's great to work with you and see you on our coverage this midweek. I know you've got one more game tomorrow. The Premier League, my friend, it's a moving animal, isn't it? It's always changing. It's always unpredictable. That's what makes the Premier League great. We've had a lot of late goals, a lot of drama.

1:23A lot of the big clubs, again, get pushed, get challenged by all the teams in this league. I think we both agree that the quality and the standard throughout the league is exceptional, which means a lot of these big teams are struggling a little bit. But Arsenal didn't struggle too much today, Danny. We'll go through the main games, the main stories from this midweek round. I guess more evidence Dan that you know Arsenal look the most complete the most you know structured the most the strongest they made changes like many others did it's always a little shaky until you get that second goal which was because Saka scored that late come off the bench to score in I think the 91st minute so there's a little bit of angst around the Emirates but yeah more evidence Danny that Arsenal are certainly the team to beat Yeah, they are, and I think it's the defensive side of the game.

2:15And I was saying on the show, this is probably the best defence fundamentally, I think from front to back, since Mourinho's Chelsea, which I think was 2003-2004. Yeah, around 05 or something like that. They just look so strong, and they're happy to deal with counter-attacks, they're happy to deal with physicality, they're happy to deal with pace, and it starts from the front as well. And I think that's sort of the difference between Arsenal and the other teams at the moment. Not all the other teams are pressing from the front like Arsenal. They're just non-stop and they can afford to rest players.

2:48Okay, they've got a few more injuries today as well, which is obviously not a great thing. But their strength in depth as well. They're just in such a good place at the moment. And I think the only way that they don't win the league is if they get in their own way. Arsenal are the only team that can stop Arsenal at the moment from winning the league. Yeah, both centre-backs are out again today. I see that Odebar's back in midfield. Fereza Madueke played, looked really, really sharp. Ben White right back. And a guy, Danny, on our shows, you probably know, we always have an underappreciated. We're not going to do it this midweek.

3:18It's tough to see all the games, of course. But Mikael Marino playing as a centre-forward for Arsenal. He's a little underappreciated, isn't he? He's under the radar as a pretty good striker and made a lovely run for his goal. A really nice ball from Ben White. But he does a really good job when, of course, Others strikers right now are just coming back from injury. And I think it's not just the goals that he scored, because obviously they've been important recently, but I think it's his movement. I know myself personally as a former centre-back. If you're playing against a centre-forward or someone that doesn't stay in that centre-forward position, your comfort blanket as a centre-back is having someone to mark.

3:53And if you've not got somebody to mark, you go looking for them. And he drags centre-backs out. And I think we saw, I think the most evident one was probably against, I think it was against Tottenham when he got the ball. Yeah, he kept dropping deep. Yeah, and he played the ball to Trossard, and the whole of the 18-yard box had been emptied out just because of his movement. And I agree with what you're saying. I think he's such an unsung hero in this team. His movement just frees up space for his teammates, and he's really selfless as well. Yeah, I mean, David Ryan made a great save, didn't he?

4:22Other than that, I mean, Brentford are a solid side. They stayed in the game. We like what Keith Andrews is doing there. But I just think the control, I remember making a note in the game like, you know, I thought the creative football was very good down both flanks, particularly the right flank. I think Nani Madoeke is going to be, when he gets, I feel like he's one of those wingers, Danny, that the biggest example is Cristiano Ronaldo, that was at United and was amazing skill, but didn't really produce a lot. Then all of a sudden it clicked. I hope for Arsenal that it does click with Madoeke, that he's going to start producing, start scoring.

4:56He's very similar to Saka, but Saka has always had that goal threat and that nous and that end product when Maduweke still hasn't quite got it but I think when he does he is a brilliant addition to the squad he is and I think what you're seeing now as time goes on is game changes from the bench and if you've got that strength in depth you want to give a player a rest if you need to change the game somewhere you know in amongst you know in the second half if things aren't going your way I just think that Arsenal at the moment the most complete team and the most complete squad just with everything that they've got.

5:29And give Arteta great credit because from the minute he came in, he's built from the back. He's got an unbelievable defence. And going forward, they've got individual brilliance, but it can be individual or it can be collective as well. They're just in such a good spot at the moment. Just a couple of things to note, Danny, before we move on. A little concern. I think Declan Rice looked like he had a bit of a problem late in the game. Who's the centre-back? Muscara. Muscara came off injured as well. and Mikel Arteta saying that he might have a problem as well. So they've got that to concern. And just quickly on the next game, I see they're Aston Villa away.

6:02I mean, Villa are absolutely flying. They're the form team. I think if you look at the wins, consecutive wins, that's going to stretch Arsenal, isn't it, to everything that they've got, given the way that Villa are playing and that Villa Park atmosphere right now. Yeah, Villa Park, as you know as well, Robert, it's one of the best places to go and play. The atmosphere there is sensational. And the fact that Villa are on a good run, Oli Watkins as well got in the goals tonight as well so I think that's massive and I think a lot of people will really be looking at it because I think everyone's saying at the moment that Arsenal they are the real deal they're winning games when they're not playing at their best and that's full credit to them that's a huge game at the weekend because if Villa can get the three points all of a sudden everything starts to close up a little bit yeah let's move on Danny and again there's so many games going at the same time over these last couple of days but the game I think we both kind of kept a close eye was Leeds United versus Chelsea.

6:55And I mean, wow, what a game, what an upset. 3-1 to Leeds. Biol in the sixth minute with an excellent goal from a central defender. Al Tanaka, that I really like, the midfield player scored, make it 2-0. Neto scored. Cal Verleon made it 3-1. Wow, again, this is kind of interesting. They made changes, like lots of changes. Badia Shields was defending and Tosin came into the team as well. I think there was five changes. Esteveu continued on the right-hand side and looked a little frustrated. You see the little kick out where he got a yellow card. Is this... Let me start with this, Danny. And this is just...

7:29This is a statement I'm going to make and I want you to give me your take on it. I think when we watch Arsenal right now, I see every day, I imagine every day of training, every game, every minute of the game is about them producing the performance, the results to win a title. I feel like, of course, They got real close. I feel like they are a team, when you look at them, look like they are absolutely flat out to win a Premier League title. Now, it's still early in the season. When I watch Chelsea play down in the Premier League, I just don't quite have the same sense that they are really going and driving and fighting for a title.

8:14I feel like they're still growing. They're still finding themselves. It's something that the manager said a couple of times, particularly more last season, to be fair, that they're not ready for a title race. He's kind of said this time, let's just wait and see where we are through December and January. There's so many games. Is that something that's fair? And, you know, how important is that? That one team, it looks like, comparing Arsenal and Chelsea, that are really, really ready to win it. And Chelsea feel like, you know, we're trying to improve and all that, but we're not really ready. Is that fair?

8:45I think it's fair to say after today's game, because I thought before this they had that belief. They won the Conference League, they won the Club World Cup, they beat Barcelona at home. What they did against Arsenal with 10 men for so long was incredible. They were aggressive, they were on the front foot. I think today was just a case of too many changes. There was too many changes and obviously one which was enforced regardless was Kaissado in midfield because obviously he got sent off against Arsenal. He's a huge miss because I think he sort of controls the tempo. And what you've got with Leeds United, we know what they're like.

9:16They signed so many physical big players in the summer. So it was no surprise that they scored from a set piece and they just didn't allow Chelsea to settle at any point. But I think before the game today, I would have looked at them and thought they can be contenders because I think it's a group of players that have grown together and I think they've grown through the good, the bad and the indifferent. Do you think they're ready to contend though, Danny? I agree with you. I just don't know whether I see that in the way that they attack each game. I think the big difference is I think Arsenal have the best squad.

9:50I think Arsenal have the best start in XI. I just think when you look at this Chelsea team, because we do talk about there's a huge element of youth in that team. And with that comes inconsistency. And I think if you're going to win a title, then you have to be consistent. And Chelsea are a team at the moment that, and this is a difference. Chelsea at the moment are, when they're at their best, they can challenge for the Premier League title. When they're not at their best, they can't. Arsenal on the other hand when they're at their best they're challenging when they're not at their best they're still challenging and that for me is the big difference and that will take time but I think Chelsea are a work in progress but I think they're getting closer each year and I personally think that they're probably going to be the closest to Arsenal's in terms of being able to catch them but it's going to be really difficult now I don't think there's any doubt about that Just a quick line I've got to mention Leeds United real quick Danny because me and Robbie have been talking about Leeds and I said I think in the last pod that the pressure's really increasing on Daniel Farker.

10:50From what I see from what my eyes tell me, they ain't bad. That's not a bad Leeds United team. I love this system today. 5-3-2 played both Mecha and Dominic Cavallon up front as a front two. I think if you look at the midfield three, the central three, that's a pretty good midfield three. I think I worry a little bit about the creativity maybe in the wider areas for Leeds United in terms of scoring goals. What a performance it is. We all know what it's like to play Ellen Road, Danny. and I'm just quite happy for Daniel Farker because it's almost like, well, how long does he get? Because we know he's been here before and he's struggled to keep teams in the league.

11:23That's such a shot in the arm for Leeds, for the fans, for the players, for the manager, for the football club of trying to obviously stay in the division. So I just wanted to give Leeds a little credit and a well done because that's some result to beat Chelsea at home, the way they played. And the other thing, Danny, and I'll get your take on it as well, watching the game, I'm thinking, oh, they're 2-0 up, they're 2-1 up and all I saw was Leeds United still attacking still attacking didn't want to drop off like many would and maybe people like us might say oh when you're winning like that be a little bit more cautious they were we had an end-to-end period for the game when they were leading but it was end-to-end I'm like oh it's just a bit risky but then they scored the third goal so that's the you know that's justification you know it wasn't at the end of the game they scored the third goal I think the 74th minute with Cabalouin is that something that you enjoyed about Leeds today?

12:12Yeah, it is. And as you quite rightly say, we've both played at Leeds United. They demand that. They demand to be on the front foot. And I think one of the problems that they've had this season, or where they've been unfortunate, is both boxes. They've missed good chances. They've conceded poor goals. I honestly feel as though they should have more points than what they currently have at the moment. But I think what they did, they made good signings in the summer in terms of physicality. And that for me is really important because if you're going to come up to the Premier League and go toe-to-toe with all these teams that love to dominate the ball, like Southampton tried to do, there's only going to be one way it's going to end.

12:49But what you've got, and I want to give a little shout out to Ampadu as well, former Chelsea player for me. He's been sensational. He's been absolutely sensational. And this is a team that, newly promoted teams, if they're going to stay up, it's going to be about their home form. Huge win for them today. It'll give them great confidence and they can go forward. But, you know, they've definitely got a huge chance now to stay in the Premier League. Yeah. Okay, home form. Talking about home form, let's go to Liverpool. Liverpool won, Sunderland won. Sunderland continues to be an incredible story, really, of a club that basically produced a new team for this division.

13:26And, of course, the big story, Liverpool down here. Now, again, games going all at the same time. It's tough to kind of get a detailed analysis of this game as well. Mo Salah started from the bench, came off the bench a little later on. Florian Wietz, Danny, looked like he was lively, he was bright. Big impact in the game, but ended up being a goal, sorry, ended up being a Mukherjee own goal. Gosh, did you, I mean, I expect a Liverpool win here. You know, I know the last game was a bit ugly, but I think he picked the same team, didn't he? One change, I think, I think it was Robertson came in. Came in the left back.

13:59I think that was it though, yeah. I mean, we don't get you on the pod very often, Danny, I mean, God, there's so much talk about Liverpool. There is, yeah. There is something missing, right? It probably is a combination of things. What do you think is the most important thing that's changed from last season to this season? Their pressing. I think their pressing is absolutely huge in terms of a difference. So different players that have left the club and ones that have come in and all doing it the same way? So I think you have to look at Diaz, you look at Nunez, both been sold. tragically, obviously, you know, they lost Jota, but I think when you look at this team at the moment everybody's talking about the defence, everybody's saying, oh well defensively they're being caught out, the reason that they haven't been caught out before this season, so to speak they haven't become worse defenders overnight, there's less protection But the defence is different though, Danny, I get what you're saying, but the defence is different, those full-backs are different, you still think it's more of the starting from the front?

14:59Yeah, I I do, because how many times have we seen Liverpool players isolated this season? Whether it be in the wide areas, whether it be through the middle, that's something you don't usually see. And because the personnel have changed, you're used to, if Liverpool lose the ball, what we're used to seeing is, they lose the ball, their counter-press is incredible. So the opposition have two choices. They go back to the goalkeeper, well, you can't counter-attack, or they just hit the ball aimlessly forward. So then the Liverpool defenders can just sort of mop that up and deal with it. But now, for me, it's sort of like the opposition can have two or three touches, can get their head up and can play the pass.

15:36And that, for me, is one of the reasons probably that Salah's not in the starting XI. Because he is, there's no doubt about it, he's been one of the greatest ever players in the Premier League, been one of Liverpool's greatest ever players. But when Liverpool find themselves in a situation that they're in now, he becomes a luxury player because he doesn't do any of the defensive side. So if he's not scoring goals and he's not assisting, he's not helping the team. No, defensively, yeah. And I wanted to ask you this, Robbie, as well, because it was something I was speaking to Tim about when we were on air.

16:03Do you think from Slott's side of things, obviously he won the Premier League last year, I think a lot of people looked at it and thought, well, this is Klopp's team, this is Klopp's style. Do you think Slott went into the summer and thought to himself, I'm going to go and spend money, I've got to make this team my own. Do you think any part of that has come into his thinking going into this new season? I don't know whether it was that sort of personal to him. Like, I'm going to make... I feel like the football club in total, Danny, said, wow, this is a great time to strengthen the squad when you're doing well.

16:33I personally feel it was too many changes. But back to your question, I don't know whether he was trying to... I mean, he's trying to make it better, Danny. I remember him saying that they want to get better and he wants to win games more easily. Well, probably bringing some of the players that he brought in, the expectation was that they'd make the team better that has not been the case and i think we all should learn and we've probably seen this many times before where players coming into the club and no matter what the fee it's never a guarantee they're going to hit the ground running and be more effective so um it i i yeah i i don't i just think the club as a whole i mean i wouldn't think that he i think it's between rob edwards and and richard hughes and arna slot of trying to take the team forward and being even better and dominating in Europe a little bit more, but they may be underestimated the quality.

17:21Some of the players that, that, that sadly are not at the club anymore. And it's been difficult. Let me throw you back a, um, an even harder question. Okay. Just reading this week, a couple or hearing on, on some phone ins and chats, stuff like that is Mo Salah. Was he, or is he a better player when he's angry, when he's trying to prove himself, when he's playing for a new contract. And now that he's kind of got there and he's done it, is the edge gone off of his game because of that new deal being signed? I'm desperate to say... Human nature. Yeah, but I'm desperate to say no because you've played with top-class players and that desire never goes, regardless of anything.

18:05I just think that what we're seeing now is... So for so long, I think Liverpool could sort of defend with nine outfield players. So long they did it, they were just such a well-oiled machine. They were incredible. And Salah could be sort of that luxury player who didn't have to do too much. And I thought, obviously, Trent Alexander-Arnold, he got a lot of criticism, but he never got any support from Salah. And Salah was able to stay in a position that when Liverpool won the ball, it was like, OK, we'll get the ball to Salah and he'll go and do the rest. Now, the problem is that the team isn't functioning the same way now.

18:37so therefore you can't necessarily have that luxury player because I think we've seen with Slott the last two games, he's gone back to basics. He's saying to the team, okay, let's just sit a little bit deeper at times and see if we can maybe play on the counter-attack and have a little bit more control out of possession. Now, the interesting thing is, Robbie, and I'll throw this one back at you, do you see Salah starting at the weekend or do you think this is a situation where Slott's looking at it and thinking, I can't have any luxury players in the team at the moment. and I need every single player on that field that's going to do the defensive side of things, not just the attacking side of things.

19:14Well, it's a couple of games now he hasn't started. Florian Vietz has looked a little brighter. I think Salah will start the next game, Danny. I think the manager will hopefully feel like he hasn't felt great about being on the sideline. There was a picture of his face, and there's been reports about... In fact, the manager said that he wasn't very happy, but he's been professional. I think he'll put him back in. Could be wrong. Could totally be wrong. The manager might be thinking he's looked a little stronger, they've not conceded so much. But I would expect him to start the next one. Yeah, you would do.

19:46You would expect him to come in sooner off the leg because he's still one of Liverpool's best players. But I think the notion of him being on the side and being, okay, well, you know, he's going to be eager to get back into the team. I don't... Regardless of how eager he is, he's not going to change his defensive attributes. I don't think that's going to change. No, don't you will. So I think from Slott's perspective, it's got to be, okay, well, if we put Salah in the team, we've got a game changer, although it's not been going according to plan this season, but we don't get anything defensive from him.

20:18But that's what you deal with when you've got a player like Mo Salah, because he is the game changer. He is the player that can make a dull or boring 0-0 into a 1-0, but as of yet, he's not been doing it. And that's why I call him sort of a luxury player in a team at the moment that can't afford to have those players because they're just trying to find their feet. And that for me is a problem at the moment. And I don't know whether he comes back into the team at the weekend. Yeah, I just double checked there. It's Leeds United away. Yeah, so that's a difficult one. So it might be, yeah, it might be that he feels he needs a bit more of a reliable force on that right side just to, because it's going to be an incredible atmosphere as it often is.

20:57but the way that result they've had today leads. Yeah, we'll see. And wow, what a game for Liverpool to try and go there and turn things around. Wow, talking about teams that are trying to turn things around, Tottenham Hotspur went to St. James' Danny and we both worked together in the studio on this game. And gosh, what a game and what a comeback from Spurs and what a performance from Christian Romero, the central defender that scores a diving header and an overhead kick to get his team a part of the points. Newcastle United Dan will be will be pretty livid won't they that they didn't they didn't see out this victory because they looked for large parts of the much better team yeah and I think when they made it 2-1 so late on as well I think they're thinking to themselves okay we've got this win now but that's where I think you have to give credit to Tottenham to Thomas Frank to the players I'm so desperate for Thomas Frank to do well I really am because when Tottenham appointed him I was like oh you know what this is a really really good managerial, you know, sort of appointment.

21:59And I think when you look to Brentford with him, he was, tactically, he was incredible. But you go from Brentford to Tottenham and it's so different. You know, you're expected to win so many of the games. I think you're expected to be the team that is proactive rather than reactive. And I just think that Thomas Frank needs to be given time. And I think if you swap things around and their home form was their away form and their away form is a home form, I don't think there'd be this much talk. But because they've been so poor at home, I think they've only won one game this season in the Premier League.

22:31And that was the first game of the season. But I think what we did see yesterday is a team that are prepared to work hard for one another. They've got the desire, they've got the commitment, the determination because Newcastle is one of the most difficult places to go to at the best of times. But to come back two times, I think that's huge. So I think that's a real, real big thing for Tottenham and for Thomas Frank. And he'll be hoping that they can continue it or take it into the weekend game where he plays against his previous team, Brentford, at home, which will be interesting. Do you think he'll get time, Danny?

23:04Do you think Thomas Frank will be allowed the time to... Because he has to get time. I mean, it's so difficult to try and change, particularly the way they played last year under Postigoglu. It's totally different. I'd love to see Thomas Frank start to build a bit of a structure, a pattern that's identifiable with the team. I don't like all the chopping and changes, and I don't think that helps the players too much. I know it's difficult when you've got so many games, Danny, like every few days. There's got to be a certain amount of rotation, maybe not so much time on the training ground that he would have wanted.

23:34But it's got to get better. It's got to get better, as you said, particularly at home, because the pressure comes from those home fans when they come and they show up at 62 ,000 people and they're not winning games. I just hope that it doesn't get, you know, there's a home game against Brentford, his former club. you know we know what happened with Fikari the last home game I fear that the fans could be close to turning it pretty nasty if it doesn't go well are you worried about that for the weekend yeah I you have to be you have to be because the team that they're playing against you know they're expected to beat Brentford and that's no disrespect to Brentford but they are expected to beat them I think the one thing I would say from Thomas Frank's perspective obviously Son's gone they've not had Kulisewski for one minute they've not had Solanke for one minute They've not had Madison for one minute.

24:18They're missing huge players. And, you know, you look at the number of players that they went after as well. You know, Eze was a huge example. Semenyo was another one. I think Mbumo as well. Gibbs-White, potentially. And they weren't able to get them. So I think that's something that you have to look at as well. But they have to now sort of become the proactive team. That's why I think their away form's been fine. They've been able to be the reactive team, you know, sit back and then sort of play an attack. but they've got to be the they've got to get better yeah they've got to be the protagonists at home and they have to start well and if they start well then the fans will get behind them and it's you know you look at Tottenham versus Brentford and I think when you look at a Premier League weekend you think to yourself okay yeah well it's not a bad game this becomes a very very big game a very big game because of the situation at Tottenham just want to get a quick line on to get your thoughts on Newcastle United before we move on again and get to some of the other matches I feel like with Newcastle I thought this was another example of it that in certain moments They don't possess the ability, really, to kill games off, to keep possession for possession's sake.

25:22I feel like they're flat out. They're two modes for them, really. They're flat out press and energy and physicality, or they're very sitting back and counter-attacky. There's not a middle ground where we're winning this game. Let's just possess the ball. Let's make Spurs, you know, they look a little bit down and out. Let's just possess. Is that where Newcastle are struggling to kick on? Is that, I don't know, you know, unless they're flat out, they struggle to be able to control games with just steady possession football. Yeah, do you know what? It's a weird one because I was thinking about it.