Another Newcastle v Liverpool Classic, Great Footy Trivia & Micah The Hype Man

0:09Alan Shearer:Hello and welcome to The Rest is Football with Alan Shearer, Micah Richards and me, Gary Lineker. We've got something a little bit different for you all today to go with the start of a new season. We're going to have a quiz. That'll be in the second half. And before we do, we have to talk about, first and foremost, your Sunday evening, Micah. We missed you on the pod. What happened? I'd like to apologize. We were supposed to do the pod around nine o 'clock. Well, I suggested to do about nine o 'clock because, as people have seen socials over the weekend, I was at Reading Festival. So just to give you a bit of context, Jolion has now become a DJ.

0:56Jolion Lescott. Yeah, Jolion Lescott, yeah, has now become a DJ. And his big gig was to go to Reading Festival, his first proper one. He's done one at the Ned and thought this was a bigger one for him. And he said to me, will you come for a bit of moral support? And I was thinking, oh, do I need to go to another festival? I went to wireless and you know, when you say to yourself, I'm not going to drink. I know for well, I've got the podcast to do later on. So I might have a couple that I'll get myself straight home.

1:28Gary Lineker:We drive there, get there about two o 'clock just to feel it out, you know, iron out the nerves and all that sort of stuff. When we get there, he said the sponsor was Lylan Scott. For those who don't know, it's like a clothing brand. When we get there, the sponsor is Jägermeister. A Jagerbond. Disaster. I was thinking, oh man. Oh wow. We go in there and I've just got a Jagermeister and lemonade ready for me in the hand. So I take a little sip. I said, nope, I've got my podcast. I'm going to be professional. So what happened was there's a few different DJs and you guys won't know him, but there's a guy called Vicstar who's a member of the Sidemen and he's massive.

2:18Like I'm talking, he's just become a DJ last two and a half years. And you know what it was like for him? Everyone was there. It was rowdy and it was jam-packed. But Jolin was going on after Vickstar. So I'm thinking, as he puts his first tune, he spins his first record, I see people leaving the tent. And I'm like, I've got to intervene here. I've got to interview I said to Jägermeister get me a bottle of Jägermeister right now big means to the rescue I get a bottle of Jägermeister I see someone in a crowd with a Man City top on and an Arsenal top on I thought this is if there's ever a time for me to go it's now my two teams are there so I go from around the right I sprint round and I just got a Jägermeister I was like who wants a fucking free drink so I go there And then I went to the front and then as there's a hype man, everyone's like, oh, Michael, it's just in the crowd.

3:22So everyone started coming back there. And then we just had a wonderful, wonderful time. And then the crowd started coming back in. Jolien started because he's actually a really good DJ, but he's not known as a DJ. So no one really knew what was going on. And let's just say I read the situation. I was like a prime maca-lele in there, and I got the crowd going. And, yeah, apologies. What was supposed to be a casual drink supporting my friend turned out to be an absolute all-day session.

3:56Gary Lineker:Me and Gaz were actually worried for you at one stage. We're thinking it's not like him. Normally when he says he's going to be here, then we thought, oh, we'll do the first half. He'll be here for the second half of the pod. And then the videos started coming up with you, walked across the floor with a bottle of Jägermeister.

4:17Alan Shearer:You were carrying a bottle of Jägermeister and Alan was carrying his tennis trophy, Michael. Yeah. We had a few problems on some terrible problems with the sound, my sound in the first half. I have to say, Producer Harry and John managed to conjure up some magic and run it through AI. It was completely inaudible before that. It was mad. It was just going... I mean, I know I sound a bit bad anyway, but, and then, I mean, we were just thinking, well, we can't ask Alan to do the first half again because he's got to celebrate his tennis triumph, Andre Agassi there. So, but in the end, they conjured up some tech wizardry and we managed to get it out to you slightly, slightly distorted, but not too bad.

5:05Gary Lineker:Do you know when you were playing, you normally used to get your pain or a bit of stiffness two days after and your muscles and your knees. This morning, oh my God, my knees, my ankles and my back. I'm in absolute agony. Honestly, I can hardly move. You know, I was thinking running, trying to get the little short shots at the net and oh my God, my knees are barking at me. So how is this though? You was playing tennis? Just for a tournament? I was in a little tennis. My friend has a tennis tournament at the back. He's got huge tennis courts. Not his, but there's a tennis club at the back of his house.

5:45Gary Lineker:So he has it for about 40 pairs every year. And me and Steve Harper won it, Micah. While you were necking your Jägerbombs and your Jägermeister, we were actually playing tennis and winning first trophy in Newcastle for about seven months.

6:00Alan Shearer:Yeah. Beat Andy Murray in the final. Amazing. Hell of an achievement. Well, at least you got one victory this weekend, Alan. Oh, that's cruel. We're recording this on Tuesday morning after Newcastle's game against Liverpool last night, which I have to say was one hell of a watch. And you were there. They cut you up a couple of times on the telly.

6:20Gary Lineker:Did you see me crying at the end? Oh, dearly me. Oh, it was hard. I mean, the atmosphere was off the charts, as we knew it was going to be, because it's always spicy, Newcastle, Liverpool. And because what's going on with the ESAC situation, it was always going to be a little bit more. But it was a brilliant game. I have to say, great credit to Newcastle, the players that were on the pitch in the second half. They were absolutely outstanding. And they get back to 2-2 and then the crowd, oh my God, St James' Park was bouncing. It really was. Yeah, it's, I mean, it was a stupid challenge from Anthony Gordon.

6:56Gary Lineker:The whole world was talking about people and players need to keep their heads because of the atmosphere and everything else before the game. And that was always going to be key, whether someone was going to get a red card or not. It was just a stupid challenge.

7:11Alan Shearer:It's the second time he's done that now. And it's something that obviously happened towards the end of last season, didn't it? Yeah, it did. At the moment of madness. And it was a rash challenge. He was actually, I think, probably the best player on the pitch before that. He was flying, wasn't he?

7:23Gary Lineker:Yeah, him and Newcastle. Liverpool couldn't get near Newcastle in terms of the energy and the passing and the pressing and everything else. and Liverpool really, really struggled. Came into it maybe the last five or ten minutes of the second half and then they get the goal straight after half, time to go 2-0 up and you're thinking, oh no, here we go. But if you turned up in that second half, you'd be looking at it thinking, who's the team with ten men here? Because Newcastle, very much like the first half, Liverpool couldn't get out and Newcastle were brilliant. Got back to all square, but Liverpool, I suppose that's why they're champions, their mentality, somehow find a way.

8:04Gary Lineker:And bringing the sub on, the young boy, 16-year-old, what a finish. I mean, oh, my God. The finish, the build-up to it was great. Then the little over, but then, oh, the finish. You're thinking, honestly, it was a finish of a 28-year-old in his peak and his prime who had been around for years. You would think that. And you just took it with such aplomb, such ease. and it was a great finish, unfortunately. It was a very, very cruel way for the game to end for a Newcastle player and Newcastle fan.

8:37Alan Shearer:Another exciting talent coming through. I mean, they've been talking about this young man for quite a while. 16 years old to come on at the last and then to do something like that. I think he got a couple of goals in pre-season. It was exciting everyone as well, Micah. Correct me if I'm running, is that the young boy from Chelsea who was so... Yes. Yes. I've actually known about him because, you know, our manager, the Depo Trio, he's got an account called Secret Scout and he's been posting him for a while now. And I thought, oh, I thought he played for Chelsea. And you're looking around thinking, why is he not being given a chance with the first team?

9:17And then he goes to Liverpool. And then, yeah, I'd like to echo what Alan said in terms of the finish. Took a slight little bubble, but the composure. A lot of people in that situation might have tried to blast it, but the way he just placed it and curled it into the corner was absolutely fantastic.

9:37Alan Shearer:On the bright side as well, Mike, I'm sorry, Alan, but a late assist for Mo Salah, our team captain, needed to do that. When's the mosh light over there? Honestly, I was jumping. I was jumping for joy. I've had a terrible week. It all started on Friday night when Colt Barmore played. You had a terrible week. I was just seeing you at Reading Festival, couldn't you? At large. I'm hungover. I've got to work later on on League of Their Own. Oh, it's all a disaster. But Mo Salah comes up trumps again. And that's the only thing with Mo Salah. Whether he has a good game or not, he gets your points. And that's all.

10:15Gary Lineker:How is that an assist from Mo Salah, by the way? Come on. The assist has to go to Shalabozla, doesn't it, for the over. Come on.

10:24Alan Shearer:Well, have you got Subozla in your person too? No, I haven't. But that is the one. Because you can't spell it.

10:28Gary Lineker:Yeah. He's the one that made it, isn't he? He should get the assist, no? Yeah, I agree. I totally agree. Liverpool were really poor though. Liverpool, you would have, I know it's very, very early and I know they've got new players, but defensively, they are all over the place. Kyrgyz had another really poor game. Salah didn't look his normal self. They couldn't get vert into the game. Yeah, they look... I know they've got great mentality and they've won the game and that is a huge positive for them. But there are also plenty of negatives, how they were dominated by 10 men, Newcastle in the second half and the way they were beaten for Bruno's goal.

11:09Gary Lineker:Kierkegaard was far too weak at that far post. They've got a lot to work on, Liverpool, to get back. But the good thing is they've played 2-1-2 without playing well. I wanted to just mention Newcastle. If you look at the bench out, you had Lewis Hall, Botman, your new signing, Chiao. Obviously, Jacob Murphy did really well last season. Willock, Ramsdale, Ramsey, and Miley. Apart from a striker, if you get a striker, now you can look at that squadron thing. You can chop and change.

11:39Alan Shearer:They've got a striker, Micah. Well, I mean, a striker who wants to be at Newcastle, let's say.

11:44Gary Lineker:That has to be resolved in the next three or four. But they can't go through till next Monday again. I mean, they've got leads on Saturday. It's just been going on and on and on. And I know the chairman was up or was in Newcastle last night. So my guess would be something has to be sorted in the next two or three days. It can't drag on until the weekend again. One way or the other, it has to be resolved. It really does.

12:09Alan Shearer:I've got a feeling it might go to the wire, Alan. Well, I mean, the thing is, I don't think, I can't see Isak changing his tune. And it has to come from him unless there's a deal done. If there's a deal done, obviously it will work out before. But if it stays as like a stalemate, then it goes to the end of the window. And then if nothing happens, because he's not easy getting a transfer over the line anyway, particularly one with these complications and the amount of money involved. if they don't well then it will drift on to January I guess which is I'm not sure good for anyone unless Isak changes tune when he realises he can't play for a few months we'll have to wait and see there's been one or two notable former players coming out sort of defending Alexandre Isak I saw Thierry Henry I think both of them Michael Owen as well both saying about clubs don't always think about footballers in certain things and there's quite a lot of hypocrisy here from a lot of people's statements.

13:15Alan Shearer:I don't know who they were aimed at but the only thing I would say on that is I think we can all understand that player against the club and the club against the player sometimes happens but the one thing I find it very difficult to agree on is that you're down tools and I think that's the one thing I would take umbrage with.

13:34Gary Lineker:Unfortunately, you've got a three-year contract. In this situation, that's your or your agent's fault for signing such a long deal without any get-out closes. I know football's ruthless. I know how it works. I know when a club wants to get rid of you as a player that you can. But they're also that club are paying you. The club are paying you for your services and you've got three years left. And there's a way of doing things. Look at how Ezra's conducted himself at Crystal Palace. Totally different. I know I get. Look how gay he's handling himself at Crystal Palace with a very difficult situation.

14:09Gary Lineker:He's got one year left, but Alexander Isak's got three years left of a six-year deal he signed, him and his agent. So that's where it's very different. I think both can be right. I think Michael Owen made a good point and so did Thierry Henry. And I said it on the pod the other day when I was at Villa, the situation, how I was treated. But when it comes to it, Alan's completely right. You can't down tools. He can't just not turn up for work. And I was waiting to have an opinion on it because I said I don't know the full story. And if he wants to go, a player should be allowed to leave as long as the club gives him the blessing.

14:51The only sort of problem we have with it is he can't not turn up for training. It's as simple as that.

14:59Alan Shearer:Absolutely. Anyway, back to the game. Do you think the presence of Florian Verts and the slightly different style that he plays, because he's more of a 10, isn't he? And he likes to play in that role, has caused Liverpool a few early issues. I mean, they've got six points, so it's not massive issues at present, but it's made them look slightly unbalanced to where they were last season.

15:25Gary Lineker:Definitely.

15:25Alan Shearer:Yeah.

15:26Gary Lineker:I saw them obviously against Bournemouth on TV. And you know what it's like when you're watching a game on television rather than watching one live. So to see them live last night, without doubt, yeah, their rhythm is nowhere near what it was when they were playing really well last season. They're finding it difficult to get him into the game. They're certainly more open. They certainly have got a weakness in terms of judging by last night and set pieces. and I know Newcastle are tough, particularly with the strength and the height of Dan Byrne. But also, I said they're weak down the sides. I mean, Slabodzla, I thought, who did a really good job at right back.

16:09Gary Lineker:But on the other side, Kirkez doesn't look up to speed at this minute. And Salah, you're not seeing the best of more Salah. I mean, I know he set up the goal last night, but other than that, he did very, very little in the game. Yeah, I would agree with that. I think Verts have come good. I think he's just used to play a different style of football. I think it is a bit physical in this league and they're still figuring out how they want to play. You know, Liverpool have signed a lot of players, aren't they? Same with Fring Pong in the first game, we picked over injury. The balance of the team is not right at the moment, but they're still winning.

16:49Echo probably Kerkhez. Kerkhez is the one I thought would come in, having played Premier League football before and was so good for Bournemouth up and down. But he just looks like he's trying a little bit too hard at this moment. He's going into challenges all or nothing. He's leaving space behind him. and yeah I think it's a problem that they will fix but they need to fix it fast and Alan said they won two out of two so if you can play like that and still win that's the most important to Liverpool Conceded four goals

17:19Alan Shearer:in their opening two games but managed they've scored seven so it's not it's not horrendous that's for sure I see Newcastle were linked with Strand Larsson I think turned down turned down a bit of 50 million

17:32Gary Lineker:She's gone up another 10 million after Gordon missing in the next three games with suspension as well. So I haven't seen a great amount of him, but I obviously saw him last season. But that's a lot of money. But unfortunately, the situation Newcastle are in, they're going to get stung, whoever they're going for. I'd like to say, though, I was impressed with Azula when he came on. I thought it worked so hard and typical me. I put something in the group, you lot guys didn't see it. I put Azula's goal record in just as he scored. And I deleted it before anyone could see it. Oh, that's what that deleted it.

18:09Yeah, I was wondering what that was.

18:11Alan Shearer:I was thinking, what's Mike a deleting? I thought, has he not gone to another festival? I thought he must be still pissed. My point was that I thought he was doing well, but his goal record wasn't that great. And I know he's still only a young lad, but then when he as I sent the text in in the group he scored a goal I thought Harry saw it Harry saw it like he said he scored it

18:38Gary Lineker:I think he's very raw Mike I think the still still learning still sort of getting used to the pace and what have you but I think because of the situation now with Anthony Gordon missing three games he's probably going to have to play or start on Saturday against against Leeds and this will be a good opportunity for him but still plenty to learn but you can't ever fault his his attitude I think he's yeah he's he'll give as good as he's got and he'll make it difficult for defenders but still got work to do