Arsenal Out, Haaland’s Brilliance & Liverpool’s Struggles

18:34Alan Shearer:So I think I'm pretty confident they'll win the league, but they do need to steady that ship. A ship that really does need steadying is that of Liverpool, I would say. I mean, what's gone on there, the difference between last season and this season is just vast, really. You know, Manchester City seem to be coming into form at the right time, whether it's too late for the league title. We'll find out in the next few weeks. But they'll fight to the end. They'll fight to the end. Manchester City, they'll fight. I told you, it's not over yet, guys. It's not over. Man City, you could just feel it. I told you after Real Madrid, the second leg, when it went down to 10 men and absolutely battered Real Madrid in terms of possession.

19:24On a different day, it could have went differently. Harland's backscoring. Semenyo's playing on the right. Doku's on the left. Shirky at the number 10. It's sizzling. It might be too little too late.

19:37Alan Shearer:I much prefer this system. I think it suits their players better, don't you, than that kind of square in midfield? Yeah, I think it does. Two up top, I don't think suits Harland. And I don't think Semenyo's really a striker as he's a wide player, I think. Yeah, but he's actually scoring a lot of goals in that position. but in terms of his overall play definitely I agree with you he's a winger but don't forget Pep always does something a bit different in the number nine and he wins a league and then he plays 4-4-2 and he managed to find a way but I think they've got the balance right in the team now and I think they'll push all the way to the end

20:15Gary Lineker:I think that hour was the best we've seen City this season yeah I think it was a game for 25 minutes or so maybe half an hour when Liverpool went head to head Salah missed the huge opportunity, which might have been different. But after an hour, I thought City just turned up the heat and Liverpool couldn't cope with it. They absolutely battered them for an hour. I thought Man City were outstanding. Back to their very, very best for that hour.

20:41Alan Shearer:I think with Haaland scoring again as well at the right time, I see him now battering in a load of goals until the end of the season. He's been through that sticky spell that strikers all go through, but he's still scoring close to a goal a game. He's not doing too badly for someone that's been through a tough patch. But that was very much the Erling Haaland that we recognised. But Liverpool defensively are nowhere near where they were, are they? Oh, my goodness. Where they were.

21:09Gary Lineker:They're miles off it. I mean, they are. You go through every single player, they're miles off it. I mean, Van Dijk and Canati. Yeah, Van Dijk had a really, really poor game. and he was involved in most of the goals in terms of not in a good way that they conceded. Clearly, there's huge problems at Liverpool. I don't really understand what's going on with Liverpool's back line because even when things are not going particularly well, you do the basics right and they're not even doing the basics right. The positioning, they're not getting tight. They're not getting people in front of them. that the line that they have is not correct.

21:53One's deeper than the other. I don't recognize this Liverpool defense. Van Dijk's been the best defender in the league for a while now. So to see him making these mistakes, I don't know, he's had mistakes throughout the season, but he's always the next game sort of covering. He's always had to sort of marshal someone who he's next to, and he's not had that consistency, you could say. but when Van Dijk's not playing well that's when you've got a problem you've got a big problem when he's off it because no one's going to cover him and that's the problem with Liverpool at the moment

22:30Gary Lineker:Salah's miles off it as well isn't he I mean that chance he had in the first half I mean Kusinov had the chance to be barged off the ball didn't he? Fall down Yeah he had a bad touch didn't he? And then challenge him again I mean he did the hard part in knocking him down Salah And then he's got, I mean, yeah, he was, unfortunately, it's not nice to see. And then he misses the penalty as well. It was just one of those days. It's like to see a Premier League great suffer like he did, it's not nice.

23:00Alan Shearer:They're human beings, Al. Yeah, yeah, yeah. They're human beings. And we go through spells when it's not happening before. And you know how important confidence is. We've always been, all been in those situations before. Tough for Slott now, I think. I think he really, I mean, Champions League, I think is probably the most likely route into next season's Champions League if they can win it. But it's hard to see them getting past PSG. On current form, PSG are picking up. They've been rested again as they do in France. They look after their teams. I think it's a big ask for them to beat them, isn't it?

23:34Yeah, but anything can happen in Europe, you know. You never know. Do you remember when PSG, did they even finish in the top? was it the top 12? They had to go to the playoffs, to remember, last season and get through that way. And in Champions League, anything can happen. On current form, you would say, no, PSG will absolutely destroy them with the quality they have. But Liverpool just have something in that Champions League where they can turn up on a big, similar to Real Madrid. You look at Real Madrid and think, oh, well, not playing that well, not really got the balance where, And then they play Man City and they play him off the park.

24:13It's just a strange competition, that Champions League. And in terms of slot, yeah, he's got to get through this next round, I think. Because, you know, when the Liverpool fans are... And Liverpool fans don't really turn on the managers, but they're saying it looks like they need a change. And that's the problem now.

24:35Alan Shearer:Who would have thought we'd be saying this 12 months ago? Mad.

24:39Gary Lineker:Crazy. after what he did last season. And the money they spent and all those things, it just hasn't worked for them. They've been all over the place. They've been so inconsistent. And I do, yeah, he has to get in Champions League via winning, I think. I mean, I'm not even sure top five will be enough, or fifth. But yeah, it's not nice to see what's going on at Liverpool. I'd like to see him give them just one more season, though, because this season has been, I don't want to say transition. And a lot of people say, hold on, he spent a lot of money. But the main striker's been out. They've had a death within the club in Jota.

25:22But the players, the whole thing with getting players over the line with contracts, the saga with Salah, nothing's been straightforward, has it? And I would just like to see him with another pre-season. And then if next season it's not going the way, by Christmas yeah but I just feel he's a manager who's won the league let's not forget he's won the league with Liverpool just last season and I know that in itself

25:49Gary Lineker:is a thing isn't it that you win the league and yet you're miles behind this year after spending that much money and I understand what you're saying in terms of the circumstances but you're talking about Liverpool Football Club for winning and spending a fortune yet they might not even finish in the top five and knocked out of that's why they have to get through the Champions League.

26:10Alan Shearer:Yeah, I don't think anyone would argue with that. Let's take a break. When we come back, we'll discuss the other two semifinals.

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28:14Alan Shearer:Welcome back to the rest is football with Michael Richards, Alan Shearer and me, Gary Lineker. The draw has taken place. We'll discuss the other two games that have been played. It's Leeds against Chelsea and Manchester City. Oh, I just knocked my mic over in excitement. and Manchester City versus Southampton both those tyres of course will be played at Wembley you predicted that Alan but at the start I thought so

28:38Gary Lineker:Leeds and Chelsea is a great game isn't it it's like the rivalry from years gone by

28:46Alan Shearer:have you ever seen the highlights of the game I think it was played at Stamford Bridge I think it was it wasn't a cock replay and where they absolutely kicked lumps out I mean you'll find you'll find it on Google or somewhere. It's extraordinary. In the modern game, I think 19 players would have got sent off. It was just, it was mad. I don't think it'll be quite that frenetic in this one. We'd just finished watching the Leeds game and it looked like they'd blown it. Well, West Ham, I thought West Ham played really well in the second half and they had a lot of chances. Hit the post a couple of times, a couple of, you know, disallowed goals, offsides, et cetera.

29:22Alan Shearer:But it was a thrilling finale but Leeds managed to dig themselves out of that whole ball winning the penalty shootout. And Micah, you've got a little smile on your face. Yes, they did. I thought Leeds were the better team in normal time. And then West Ham were the better team in extra time. Then West Ham had a couple of goals disallowed. Then Leeds sort of couldn't get going. And then Areola gets injured. And then they're going to bring on the young kid at 20. he saves the first penalty it was written for him what's his name now I forgot his name let me get his name Finn Herrick Finn Herrick comes on saves the first penalty and I'm thinking fair play to West Ham they've kept going back in the game but obviously I've got my loyalties to Leeds being from Leeds and all that so I want Leeds to go through but the game was just bonkers absolute bonkers Troy was really good Tanaka scored the goal who I mentioned at the start of the season.

30:28Hey, roll the tapes, Harry. Of course, we've had to wait nine months

30:32Alan Shearer:for him to get a goal, for him to say something. And a big deflection at that. Hey, a goal's a goal. You two are the first to say that. And then you're thinking, oh, it's going to be West Ham's day. Danny Dyer was in the crowd every two minutes. Oh, he was going through the mill, wasn't he? Yeah, it was a really great game. And then you're just thinking, can Leeds get over the line? They've not been to Wembley since, was it 87? Yep. Since 87, before I was born. Nearly 40 years. Nearly 40 years, wow. But all in all, it could have went either way. It was really enjoyable. He was quite cocky, the young goalkeeper, though, wasn't he?

31:11Alan Shearer:He was giving it large challenges. I love all that, though. Whoa. Because, you know, really deep down, he's shitting himself, isn't he? Yeah, you probably do. So you've got to act like that, you know? Come on, then. and then he gets his confidence from the pen and then it just wasn't meant to be. But it was a great moment for him. Really happy for him. Penalty shootouts. I mean, I still think we should do away with extra time. That's my, you know, except for finals. It should only be in any kind of finals, but the rest of it, 90 minutes, everyone's sitting at home. We're all hoping it goes to penalties because we like a penalty shootout.

31:47Gary Lineker:Yeah, unless you're a player. Well, there is that.

31:51Alan Shearer:But do you want another half an hour though? You know, if you've played 90 minutes, if you've been substituted, it's different, obviously. But if you play 90 minutes and the amount of football that the players have been asked to play now and everything, that's somewhere where they can give back a little bit because they've increased the number of fixtures, especially if you're in European football. But just to take off that extra burden of, you know, wandering around with cramp and all these sort of things in extra time. But that's my thought. So, you know, leads through to the semi-final where they'll play Chelsea, who didn't have too many problems against poor old Port Vale.

32:27Alan Shearer:But, you know, their final was the last round, really, wasn't it?

32:30Gary Lineker:Yeah, seven. I mean, it was a tough one. As soon as they scored on the first minute, you just thought, oh, could be trouble here. And it was. And it's all about your attitude in those games, isn't it? And their attitude was really good. I guess the talking point before the game was Chelsea banning Enzo for a couple of games before he said.

32:52Alan Shearer:I thought that was slightly odd. I don't think he said anything particularly bad or detrimental to Chelsea. He basically just said he'd like to live in Madrid. Kukurea said something similar and didn't get punished at all. We saw, obviously, Rodri saying, you know, I mean, who wouldn't want to play for Real Madrid? I mean, it's just, I don't understand why that, but, and also I think to give him a two game ban for it, yeah, fine him if you want to do it, fine him and keep it in house. I just don't think what's, I don't see how that helps you, but, you know, they came out and won 7-0, so it didn't make any difference, blah, blah, blah.

33:31Alan Shearer:But I just thought it was a little bit odd. The way Pep handled Rodri, I know he's much more experienced and he's done it all. But Pep's, yeah, you know, we want him to sign another contract. We want him to stay. But, you know, he's from Spain and, you know, who doesn't want to play for Real Madrid? And if you want, like all my players, if they want to leave, we'll sell them.

33:51Gary Lineker:What's the difference, wasn't it? The attitude of a guy that's won it all rather than a guy that's just into the game, I guess. He's trying to make a statement for the dressing room and a stance that you can't... It's not the right thing to say, but there are different ways of going about it. But I guess finding players who are on 150, 200, 250 grand a week is not a deterrent, is it, anymore? I think he had to do it, you know, Gaz. I think with all the pressure that we're seeing as being under recently and players are coming out and saying that, It makes you look weak as a manager, if you don't say anything.

34:33What I would have done if I was a manager, I would have said, I'll leave him out the next game because it's Port Vale. And then he's a very, I wouldn't say two games, you know? So then it looks like he's disciplined him, but he's still back for the Manchester City game. So, because he's going to need Enzo because he's one of their best players. But he had to say something. It's easier to say it for Pep. Alan, can I just ask you something?

34:57Alan Shearer:has the sun gone down in Portugal

34:59Gary Lineker:the sun's gone down and I haven't even turned the light on and I can't be arsed to get up and turn the light on you're going

35:06Alan Shearer:gradually fading oh yeah sorry the light the only problem you've got

35:10Gary Lineker:with disciplining someone and missing the games is that when another player steps out of line straight away then they're going to think well hang on you disciplined him for game wise so you have to then do something similar when it comes up next you know that's the only problem.

35:27Alan Shearer:It's not an easy situation, particularly for a young manager. He's finding his feet. We should cut him a little bit of slack. It was a good victory for them. We've told you the draw. Leeds, Chelsea, Man City, Southampton. I suppose there'll be obvious favourites in that one. City in particular, it'd be hard. Southampton did brilliantly to get past Arsenal. Can they do it? Same to Manchester City. We shall see. At least Chelsea could be closer. I mean, at this stage of the competition now, I think the way it works out in TV rights, if I'm not mistaken, Alan, you'll tell me because she's obviously still at the BBC.

36:07Alan Shearer:So TNT will get first pick of those semifinals and then BBC will get the other one. So it will be interesting because there's not much in it really. You can make a case for both. I think if it had obviously been Chelsea, Manchester City, that would be an automatic first choice for either broadcaster. But yeah, I don't know which one they'll go for. I think I'd probably go, I think the underdog, Southampton, the fact they're in the championship, even though I think by and large, they're not far off being a Premier League club. I think that would perhaps be the more interesting for the neutral, but I don't know.

36:45Gary Lineker:Leeds-Chelsea's got plenty of, as we said, it's got plenty of history over the years.

36:49Alan Shearer:Very much so.

36:50Gary Lineker:That's it. Yeah, I don't know. I guess it's 50-50. City. You go City every time, don't you? The underdogs versus the champions. Yeah. City-Chelsea final?

37:02Alan Shearer:City-Chelsea final, yeah. Could be, but Chelsea have not beaten Leeds this season. They lost once and drew one in the league this season. So, I don't know. I think that might be a tight one. Tough one. Chelsea have to be favourites, obviously. for the positions in the lead table, but all to play for. Hold on, City can still win the treble, you know. Well, I was going to mention that, Micah, right at the end. I mean, imagine after all that, if they went and won the treble and Arsenal ended up with nothing, which I mean, I've got lots of Arsenal friends and they're all in meltdown at the moment.

37:39Alan Shearer:They're all having a blind panic. but I mean that would be too cruel that would be too cruel although Tottenham fans might disagree I think we need to end this podcast before you vanish into the dark

37:54Gary Lineker:yeah exactly sorry guys it'd be far easier to walk five yards until the late one

38:03Alan Shearer:that was just the way you played out no I'm not even a six yard but I'm staying exactly where I am even if the floodlights have gone out So let's call it a day there. That's it from this episode. The rest is football. Goodbye from me. Goodbye from me. Goodbye from me. Have a great week.

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