In short
The episode of The Rest is Football (Alan Shearer and Gary Lineker; Micah Richards joins) covers early Champions League and Premier League form, focusing on late goals, tactical balance, and squad depth.
Key claims
Liverpool’s five straight wins include late winners (89th minute or later), which boosts confidence but may mask defensive vulnerability; Virgil van Dijk’s positioning and desire drive standout headers.
Notable examples
Liverpool vs Atletico (late goals; Simeone red after dugout altercation; Solov missed after Liverpool’s third); Chelsea losing 3-1 to Bayern (Harry Kane two goals incl. penalty; Chelsea turnovers; Cole Palmer disallowed; Rhys James used centrally). Other guests/teams: PSG thrash Atalanta 4-0; Tottenham scrape a win after a gifted early goal; Arsenal win away at a tough venue, showing bench strength; Real Madrid start with Mbappé penalties; Trent injured; Carvajal sent off.
Guests
none (no interview guests mentioned).
Written by AI. May contain mistakes. Listen to the episode to check what was said.
Chapters
Tap a time to open that second in VOLiverpool's Late Game Heroics
0:00 to 0:52
Discussion on Liverpool's impressive late-game victories this season.
“For adults with Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis symptoms, every choice matters.”
Liverpool's Late Game Heroics
1:05 to 1:50
Discussion on Liverpool's impressive late-game victories this season.
“Instead of getting stuck in a queue for F1 tickets, Amex gets you pre-sale access to select races across the season.”
Liverpool's Late Game Heroics
2:42 to 4:40
Discussion on Liverpool's impressive late-game victories this season.
“Hello and welcome to The Rest is Football with Alan Shearer and me, Gary Linnicka.”
Liverpool's Performance Analysis
4:40 to 7:22
Analyzing Liverpool's recent matches, player performances, and tactics.
“and they started the game well, got the Salah's goal, was fantastic.”
Chelsea's Struggles Against Bayern
7:22 to 9:41
Examining Chelsea's defeat to Bayern Munich and Harry Kane's performance.
“If anything happens to Van Dijk, then that would be a concern.”
Key Players in the Premier League
9:41 to 11:04
Reflecting on standout players and performances in the Premier League.
“He just stripes it away into the corner of the goal.”
PSG's Strong Start in Champions League
11:04 to 12:17
Discussing PSG's emphatic win against Atalanta and their season outlook.
“PSG have started where they left off in this competition last season.”
PSG's Strong Start in Champions League
12:20 to 13:23
Discussing PSG's emphatic win against Atalanta and their season outlook.
“With the new season underway, we're online more than ever.”
Tottenham's Tough Victory
14:18 to 21:44
Discussion of Tottenham's recent match and the importance of their win.
“The most important thing for them was the three points.”
Arsenal's Strong Performance and Future Prospects
21:44 to 22:59
Analysis of Arsenal's recent performance, squad depth, and expectations.
“results are you about to fly off I'm off to America in the next couple of hours yeah I'm about to fly I go and back on Sunday afternoon in time back home to watch the Arsenal City game.”
Transcript
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2:02Gary Lineker:Queen Carvania stood haloed by the morning sun. An army hung on her every word.
2:10Alan Shearer:My champions, I have sold my chariot on Carvana. It was a lovely SUV, an inexplicably queenly offer. They're even coming to the castle to collect it. Tonight, we feast.
2:26Gary Lineker:An offer you can feast on. Sell your car today on Carvana. Pick up these, may I fly.
2:42Alan Shearer:Hello and welcome to The Rest is Football with Alan Shearer and me, Gary Linnicka. No, Micah Richards. he's always busy Alan he's always gallivanting somewhere again well we've had the first round of fixtures for the Champions League we recorded this on Thursday morning worth pointing out because it's a big game tonight at the Toon yeah
3:04Gary Lineker:massive what a what a game for Newcastle I'd say that I'm hopeful that that'll do alright and get something out of the game it certainly will not be easy for Barca I don't think
3:14Alan Shearer:by the time people listen to this you'll know the result so hopefully those words don't come back to that.
3:21Gary Lineker:Just remember Tino's hat-trick from 1997. Tino. Tino Asprea. Yeah, he had scored a great hat-trick against Barcelona back then in the Champions League as well so let's hope for something similar tonight.
3:35Alan Shearer:Yeah, it's been an interesting start. Mostly pretty good for the Premier League clubs with the exception of Chelsea who had a tough one at Bayern Munich. Should probably start with last night's game Liverpool because what a remarkable start to the season they've had. They've scored a winning goal in all five games from the 89th minute after. It's unbelievable.
3:58Gary Lineker:Is that a good thing
3:59Alan Shearer:or is that a cause for concern, do you think? It's definitely not a bad thing, is it? A bad thing is conceding a goal in each game to cause you a defeat. So if you win, I think it's good because it gives you an uplift. And it's also the start of the season where you're feeling your way. They've got new players coming in. So I think they'll be delighted. It might show up that they've got one or two issues, perhaps, that we talked about, and we have learned, and tactically in terms of working inverts into the side and they've not quite got the balance yet. They've been a bit more vulnerable defensively, haven't they, than they have been.
4:33Gary Lineker:Yeah, I thought they did really well, actually, for the first two, maybe half an hour or so. I thought there was an energy about the game and they started the game well, got the Salah's goal, was fantastic. Isak started, which was a bit of a surprise after not being involved at all at the weekend and then him starting. But then after that, I think you've got to give great credit to Atletico because they sort of came right back into the game. And yeah, they'll be, I mean, Simeone was absolutely raging towards the end, wasn't he? He got his red card because he had some spat with fans behind the dugout.
5:04Gary Lineker:I think his gripe was that they were abusing him all game and he went back afterwards and said something or whatever and there was a bit of an altercation. and he got a red card. So they were a bit unlucky. But for Liverpool, another win, another late goal. It can't continue. I mean, and it won't continue. But five games with late, late goals. And I mean, some of them, what, 95th minute or so. That will have to change. But I suppose their mentality and everything else, you've got to admire because they keep going and keep pushing and are continuing to get those late goals.
5:40Alan Shearer:What a header from Virgil van Dijk. I mean, he was wrestling with a guy the whole match, wasn't he? He was so, I mean, he wasn't even looking at the ball and blocking. And there again, we'll get inconsistencies with this because sometimes you'll get a penalty and most of the time you won't. But, oh, blimey, it was a fantastic header.
5:59Gary Lineker:Yeah, not only was it a great header, Gaz, you've just said it. I think, you know, if you look at him and study him and look at the strength and the determination and the balance and the position and all of those things, Yes, it's a great header, but all of those things are so impressive as well to allow him to get in the position to get the header away. Yeah, just everything about him wanting to get on the end of that ball, the desire to get on the end of it was the most impressive thing for me. Even Solov could have equalised after that, couldn't he? He could have, probably should have, yeah.
6:31Gary Lineker:That was a great ball in and he had the full goal to aim, and he put it straight down the middle, didn't he? So that was a big opportunity even after Liverpool had scored the third goal, yeah. yeah it's a cracking game
6:41Alan Shearer:Urenti scoring two again at Anfield I remember I was at that game the last time he did it did you know after that he had a dog and then he called it Anfield
6:50Gary Lineker:I read that yeah I saw that I didn't know whether that was truth or not is that right yeah I believe it's true
6:55Alan Shearer:I believe it's true it looks like a kind of bulldog
6:58Gary Lineker:he's got a brilliant celebration as well Urenti the golf swing he's got a nice smooth golf swing yeah very good I don't know
7:04Alan Shearer:I just think he probably hits it to the right a little bit yeah But you have your lucky grounds, don't you? And Amsfield's certainly one of them. Overall, though, I think, you know, Liverpool are going to take some beating this season once their players settle in as well.
7:20Gary Lineker:I think they're pretty strong all over the park, perhaps other than centre-out. If anything happens to Van Dijk, then that would be a concern. But I think if they can keep him fitting in that team, then all the other options they've got. I mean, even Eckertike, who's had a great start to the season, he was left on the bench for Isak last night. so you'd have to feel a bit of sympathy for him. I just wonder whether if he knew the situation and then knew the scenario with Isak coming in and whether he would have made the same decision or not, I don't know, but he's had a great start so clearly he would have been disappointed not to start again.
7:57Alan Shearer:It's interesting now because all the big teams, they've got big squads when they're playing the Champions League now and it is a good point. I wonder when he's about to sign for the club, they said well actually we're also going to go and get Isak I suspect not, do you?
8:13Gary Lineker:No, I think there was something wasn't there before it came out about Isak and obviously Newcastle said no then they went and got Ekotiki who Newcastle were already talking to I just wonder, I don't know it's something to think about I guess I think particularly with the start he's made and how impressive he's been in the goals because I guess in a lot of the games that if Isak is fit then he will start whether Eketike goes to the left which obviously isn't his favourite position we'll have to we'll have to wait and see yeah
8:49Alan Shearer:certainly will let's move on Chelsea got beaten by three goals to one two goals for Harry Kane incredible isn't he obviously one of them was a penalty the other was brilliant finish typical finish from Harry so accurate isn't he it's like unbelievable
9:04Gary Lineker:I mean I think he's got 10 goals in six games already this season
9:08Alan Shearer:not bad is it
9:11Gary Lineker:I mean his his penalty was just a great penalty really confidently struck and his finish Chelsea shot themselves on the foot a bit by trying to play out they got caught on the ball and they give it away and you get if it finds him in the position that it did then you're in trouble and it did it went through the defender's legs into the corner keeping no chance and that was basically game over I know Cole Palmer had one disallowed after that but not a great start for Chelsea in the Champions League but that is always going to be a very very tough game by and away yeah very difficult game
9:45Alan Shearer:Cole Palmer again I mean lovely finish the first one and the second one if it had been given he was marginally offside wasn't he but he looks like he's come back from that little glitch little injury at the start of the season but he's a beautiful footballer he really is
10:01Gary Lineker:his goal I mean the way he carried the ball and then got the ball back but he made the finish look stupidly easy which of course it wasn't. It just looked effortless. He just stripes it away into the corner of the goal. Yeah he looks impressive again doesn't he Colt Palmer?
10:20Alan Shearer:Interesting playing Rhys James in the central midfield.
10:23Gary Lineker:Yeah but he's done that before though hasn't he?
10:26Alan Shearer:Yeah he has done it. I mean he's just
10:27Gary Lineker:such a versatile player isn't he? Yeah he is absolutely. He's a very talented player. So, yeah, you can know right back on how good he is or win back and whipping those balls in as he did for England. But, yeah, he's a very good player. I mean, the options that they've got there, particularly with some of the midfielders, they've got at Chelsea as well and playing him in midfield, yeah.
10:49Alan Shearer:I do like Michael Alise. I know we watched him a lot at Crystal Palace, but he's really settled into life at Bayern Munich. He's so creative.
10:57Gary Lineker:They've got some good forwards. I mean, Alise, Kane, Diaz, they're not going to be a pushover buying this season in that competition you know Chelsea's
Read the full transcript
11:04Alan Shearer:next game
11:05Gary Lineker:go on Benfica ah Jose Jose wow it looks that way doesn't it yeah
11:12Alan Shearer:it looks very likely that it's going to happen I hear it's pretty close so wow he'll always turn up somewhere I don't know how many teams now he's gone back to Chelsea with but it's been a few over the years
11:27Gary Lineker:he'll go to Newcastle as well because Newcastle have got Benfica at St. James' Park as well, yeah. Yeah. Yeah, so interesting. Another job for him.
11:35Alan Shearer:Exactly. PSG have started where they left off in this competition last season. They absolutely demolished Atalanta. Great goal from Kravackeli. I don't know whether you've seen it.
11:47Gary Lineker:I haven't seen that. I've seen the result, Gary. I haven't seen the goals, but they'll be one of the favourites, PSG, without a doubt, because of the players that they've gotten, because of their success last season, and rightly so. and they've got off to, yeah, good start. 4-0, wasn't it?
12:01Alan Shearer:Yeah, 4-0. Very easy, very comfortable. And they look in decent shape in terms of defending their trophy. But I think they'll be pushed maybe a little bit harder this season. Let's take a break. We'll discuss Tuesday night's games when we come back. This episode of The Rest is Football is powered by NordVPN. With the new season underway, we're online more than ever. Premature fantasy wildcards, ticket hunts, transfer gossip, usually on Wi-Fi you probably shouldn't trust. And judging by the headlines, it's not just football fans turning to VPNs at the moment. Lads, any close calls so far?
12:40Gary Lineker:Couple. I mean, when we're doing fantasy football in the pub, I didn't get any team together, midfielders in, attackers in defence. But most importantly, the captain, making sure nobody can see my captain's choice.
12:55Alan Shearer:Yeah, it's generally pretty predictable, I would say.
12:58Gary Lineker:I keep refreshing my phone in terms of the transfer gossip that's around as well.
13:03Alan Shearer:Yeah, that's where NordVPN comes in. It hides your IP, encrypts your data and keeps everything you do online private, even on public or hotel Wi-Fi. No tracking, no snooping, no hackers, no people seeing your captain. Think of it like keeping a clean sheet online, secure, private, sorted. To get the best discount off your NordVPN plan, go to nordvpn.com slash restisfootball. Our link will also give you four extra months on the two-year plan. There's no risk with Nord's 30-day money-back guarantee. The link's in the podcast episode description box.
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14:14Alan Shearer:Welcome back to The Rest is Football with Alan Shearer and me, Gary Lineker. Good start for Tottenham. Wasn't a great game. Cool. The most important thing for them was the three points. It was a bizarre goal.
14:26Gary Lineker:I did the co-coms for Amazon, guys, and I was hoping for a great game, but it certainly wasn't that. But the Tottenham fans and Thomas Frank managing for the first time in the Champions League will not matter one bit to him, other fans, other players. It was about winning. They made hard work of it. They were gifted a goal after four minutes with a goalkeeper. I mean, I would chuck that one in. It was unbelievable. But, you know, I think I'm right in saying City last season qualified with 11 points through to the knockout stage with 11 points. So Spurs are sitting on three already. That's why I think it was hugely important.
15:06Gary Lineker:They just somehow had to win that game. And it didn't matter that. They didn't play well. It was just about getting three points and they have done. So that's a great start for them, considering that 11, probably 12 will be enough to get you through to the knockout stages.
15:22Alan Shearer:Yeah, how was the atmosphere in there?
15:24Gary Lineker:Yeah, it was very good, actually. There was great anticipation. It was a good... I mean, it's an unbelievable stadium. I know we keep saying it. It is right that Champions League football is in that great stadium. Yeah.
15:35Alan Shearer:Anyone catch your eye in particular?
15:37Gary Lineker:Not really, no. I mean, the two centre-halves had to work hard, Van de Ven and Romero again. and I do think if Spurs are going to have a good season then it's key those two stay fit because they're such an integral part to what they do I mean both of them at times had to put in a couple of great challenges Van der Ven was involved in a decision which could have gone slightly different maybe a red card but ultimately I think it was the right decision in the end later on in the game but yeah there wasn't anyone really that stood out for Tottenham. It was just one of those days where get through the game, get the points and move on without playing particularly well.
16:18Alan Shearer:Villarreal, they're not a bad side though.
16:20Gary Lineker:Yeah, they're not a bad side, Gary, but they lacked... Firepower. Yeah. Had Nicola Pepe on the right, Buchanan on the left, Jose Perez and Mika Toudzi had played. No, they didn't look a threat. I mean, they got into some good positions, but without having the threat of putting the ball on the net. Very good start for Arsenal, I would say,
16:41Alan Shearer:because that's a tough place to go. Yeah. They also lost at home recently in La Liga as well, but it was a good performance from Arsenal. I mean, they weathered the storm, big atmosphere early on there. And Samba Mes, which is a brilliant place to play football. I think very professional-like performance from Arteta. And his subs work really well, obviously. And I think he was talking, wasn't he, his press conference now, every player's important. It's very, you know, when they come on and they've got to do this and that and the other. So it's obviously he's trying to keep everybody happy there, which is, I suppose, one of the skills you need now as a coach with these enormous squads that they've got.
17:16Alan Shearer:Absolutely.
17:17Gary Lineker:I think what that highlighted the other night for Arsenal was is how strong they are, what they've got to come off the bench, which wasn't the case last season. I mean, when you bring in Martinelli, Trossard, who are very good players in their own right, if the game's not going the way you want it, players might be tired and you've got quality coming off the bench which Arsenal probably didn't have that firepower last season so and I think that highlighted where Arsenal are now so that was a really really impressive result to go there and get all three points and score two goals
17:52Alan Shearer:I think a lot of people were saying a lot of critics about Arsenal the fact they've not won anything for a few years now that this needs to be that season for Mikel Arteta it has to be doesn't it I mean they've finished
18:03Gary Lineker:coming really close is not enough no no is it I mean once you get to that to that standard then the next step is to go and win it and that's what Arsenal have been lacking and I guess that's why they've had such a big investment this summer is because you can see the firepower was lacking last season that's what they missed they missed strength and depth in those positions some quality for when Saka's out injured because whether you like it or not he does get injuries and he does miss games and you need quality to come in and replace and in forward positions I mean they had Martinelli and Trossard come on they had they've got Eza they've got Magwecki they've got Saka they've got Jokerez they've got Mourinho who can play up there so yeah they're really they're really impressive in forward positions now and there is no excuses now anymore for Arsenal they have to win something this season and Arteta knows that he's not daft he's been around the block he knows what the score is of course
18:58Alan Shearer:it'll also be encouraged I think Alan by the way that the new signings of by and large settled in really well I think Madweki in particular I thought he was dangerous again last night he's a real threat Ezra's done some nice stuff since he's arrived Giochrez has got his goals Zubamendi Zubamendi he's a lovely footballer really intelligent player so the fact it looks like the recruitment's been good because we all know how important recruitment is in football now whatever your budget it's how you spend it and if you spend it badly and make mistakes you'll be punished So I think he'll be hugely encouraged by that, Arteta, going into the rest of the season.
19:37Gary Lineker:When you bring in that many in at a cost, then they have to settle in very quickly and it looks as if everyone's done that. So that's a credit to him and to his staff for allowing them to go out and play and shine and do all those things. But yeah, I think they're in a really good place, Arsenal. They've made some astute, clever signings and he's ready to challenge this season, I think, no doubt.
20:02Alan Shearer:One of the teams that challenged the season will be Real Madrid. They got off to a winning start as well. A couple of Mbappe penalties reminded me of the World Cup final. They both went to the same place. Keep away the right way on both of them. Actually, I thought the second one, he could probably have saved it. It would have been a bit disappointing. But he started the season, I mean, nearly scored an overhead kick in the first few minutes. Yeah, I saw that, yeah. Yeah, he's looking exceptionally sharp. He's very much taken to the number nine role now. now
20:30Gary Lineker:I don't think he'll be far away from top scorer in this competition I think with the goals that they're going to score they'll go deep into the competition so he's a good bet I think for top scorer felt a bit for Trent going off injured after a few minutes yeah after a few minutes I hope he's alright but hamstring isn't it no great start for him at Real Madrid hasn't been a great start for him
20:51Alan Shearer:has it no no it's been tough and that's the last thing he would have wanted and I mean the one thing is typical with football isn't it that you've got two players vying for a position obviously the new signing trent alexander and he's been rotating each game and carvajal gets himself sent off with it i mean his little head but well i don't know what's he think i mean he's he's 33 years old i'm gonna say that a guy a guy
21:19Gary Lineker:of his experience what on earth is he doing doing that man it was like crazy madness i presume he'll
21:25Alan Shearer:get a three-match suspension for that and then Trent will be out for a few weeks there's no question with the hamstring and all of a sudden you haven't got a right-back I suppose they'll get someone I'll tell you I like Alan this Ardette Gouler
21:37Gary Lineker:yeah good good player what a talent yeah really good yeah and only going to get better
21:43Alan Shearer:so we've seen most of you results are you about to fly off
21:47Gary Lineker:I'm off to America in the next couple of hours yeah I'm about to fly I go and back on Sunday afternoon in time back home to watch the Arsenal City game. Flying visit.
21:59Alan Shearer:Oh, flying visit for the Premier League. Where is it? Kansas, isn't it?
22:03Gary Lineker:It's in Kansas, yeah. There's no direct flight. It's like eight and a half hours to Chicago, two-hour stop, two-hour flight to Kansas for just under two days.
22:15Alan Shearer:You've seen the Wizard of Oz, isn't it? That's where that was, isn't it? Kansas, wasn't it? All right, okay. And then back Sunday after the night. All right, yeah. I think it was, if I remember right. will you be in the air when Newcastle playing Barcelona
22:27Gary Lineker:yeah I'll just hope I'll be landing in and around the time the final whistle I'm hoping that I might get it somewhere I might get it on the plane somewhere no Wi-Fi and all that no
22:35Alan Shearer:yeah the Wi-Fi is good nowadays on a plane as you can get but I'm not sure it's strong enough to get pictures of a game is it I'll let you know I'll let you know I'll be texting you let us know big game that I'll definitely be watching that one so safe travels Alan cheers thank you that's it for this episode the rest is football goodbye from me goodbye from me have a good weekend
From the publisher
Is Liverpool’s recurring need for a late show actually a slight cause for concern? Are Chelsea lacking the Champions League experience needed to go far in the competition? Are PSG the favourites to retain their European title this season?
Gary and Alan also discuss two great results for Spurs and Arsenal to get their Champions League campaigns underway.
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