Liverpool Turmoil, Marvelous Maresca & Arsenal Looking Untouchable

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3:21Hello and welcome to The Rest is Football with Alan Shearer, Micah Richards and me, Gary Lineker. Arsenal go three points clear in the Champions League table group phase are sitting six points clear on top of the Premier League as well. Bayern Munich was 17 games unbeaten this season and had only drawn once before tonight. I know it's early, but how many trophies could Arsenal win possibly this season? Gone a bit early on that one, but I must say it was an incredibly impressive performance.

3:53Gary Lineker:Superb. I think they're going in against a massive club and all eyes were going to be on that game. and it didn't disappoint. I thought Arsenal were brilliant again as they were at the weekend. They're just carrying on that good form. Whoever they bring on as a substitute seems to fit in straight away really well. Their squad is incredibly strong. Yeah, and there's no doubt that you'd have to look at them as to be favourites to win it now. They're flying. Mikey, you're looking very dapper. Oh, thank you very much. Got a little cardigan on tonight, straight from CBS for the lads, you know? Love it.

4:29Who were you working with? Who was in the studio with you? Jamie Carragher, Thierry Henry and Kate Abdov. Usual CBS team. It was a weird night, wasn't it? Because so many goals. How good are Arsenal at set pieces? It's not normal how good... How can you get delivery right every single time? It's not normal. Rice and Saka are unbelievable. I don't know how they're doing it. And Moreno is so good in the air as well. all the players Arsenal have got out you know Odegaard come on the pitch didn't he and Jokeres is out Trossard went off for an injury and it's okay you've got Martinelli to come on and Madweke comes back from injury in terms of squad they've got the best squad in Europe maybe not the best 11 when everyone's fit but in terms of squad doesn't change the way they want to play they are brilliant to watch and you know if you look at the tactics as Thierry actually said if you look at what Arsenal do like percentage-based football.

5:29So they only play out when necessary. So you know in the North London derby, it's almost like you're thinking, oh, you could play around the corner now. They just kick it long and then go after the ball, then try and get the second ball and squeeze up the pitch. And then so much energy. I think it's brilliant the way they play. And yeah, they're looking special this season.

5:48Gary Lineker:You look at the subs they're bringing on. You said it. I mean, Calafiori comes on, whips a great ball in. Madwecki comes on. Odegaard comes on. Martinelli comes on. It's like, that's the big difference, is there? Ben White as well. Ben White, the quality that they've got is impressive. You know what, though, Al? It's centre-halves, though. Do you remember a couple of seasons ago? Oh, I forgot. His name's just gone up my head now. And it wasn't great. He came in for a big game. He came in in a derby. Tony Adams.

6:26Tony Adams. But anyway, the point I'm trying to make, you've got Hincapier plays and then does ever so well. Then Mascara plays and does ever so well. When you've got Gabriel out and you can rest Saliba, it's just the squad is just ridiculous. It's so powerful. Is it Ribaldi?

6:51Ribaldi. Or Baldy like Alan. Oh, no. Oh, no, you can't do that anymore.

6:57Gary Lineker:My lawyers are watching, Micah. My lawyers are watching. Big news breaking today from the high court. What's going on? Did you not see it? No, I didn't see it. Some have been working all day, Alan. Calling someone bald now, you could be done in the court. The lawyers are watching, Micah. Really? Yeah. What about ear jokes? Are they allowed? Eh?

7:19Never again, Al. Never again. I was talking about Rob Holding Rob Holding Rob Hold that's not what I was talking about Rob Holding when he came in he was a good player hey Gaz has had a few rides tonight hasn't he I can tell he's had a few Harry said to me he said I think it was Rob Aldi

7:45that's what I thought I heard he said Rob Holding and he said Rob Holding I just misheard him we had a curry night and a few glasses of wine and I was thinking I can't remember a player called Ribaldi but anyway I'll go

8:04Gary Lineker:oh dear I didn't want to ask him I'm thinking who the fuck is Ribaldi

8:11Alan Shearer:Ribaldi I was thinking the same thing I was going who Rob who Rob Rob Rob Rob Rob Rob Rob Rob the point I was trying to make he was a good defender but the standard went down a little bit when they bring in their centre-halves now the standard's just the same maybe just Gabriel is better aerial threat from set pieces the squad is just amazing

8:35Gary Lineker:they didn't give Kane a sniff did they I know he kept going deep a lot didn't he and I was watching it but they looked really comfortable and they're buying scored a really good goal but other than that I thought Arsenal handled them really really well he looks a talented youngster Carl doesn't he doesn't he what a goal he's tiny I know he is tiny but he scored a wonder goal in the Champions League a few weeks ago and then he followed up with another incredible finish 17 yeah 17 there's some great talent in the world at the moment young talent seem to be getting younger or are we getting older both it's It's one of the two.

9:18But who's going to stop Arsenal this season in anything? We know what football is like. You lose a couple of matches and everything goes wrong with the world, but they really do not look like that's going to happen because that squad strength we talked about, even if they've got a few injuries, which they've had, they can cope with. Not many teams have the cover, particularly at centre-back, like they seem to have done. and their recruitment has been fantastic over the last few years, particularly I would say possibly the last six months or so in the summer.

9:55Gary Lineker:How good was Declan Rice again, by the way? Declan Rice. I mean, what a player. Micah Richards, come on. I mean, I'm just saying, I'm just saying, I remember the comparisons and you laughed at me and what I was saying about Rodri and... No, no, no, no, I did not laugh at you because you know the full context to what that was, Alan. basically and he admitted it himself we spoke to him tonight after the show and we've got Chelsea at the weekend and everyone was talking about Caicedo and Rice battles like Roy Keane and Vieira type battles in midfield and he said he's a little bit different for him he's a number six Caicedo but he but Declan Rice Caicedo's number six he's a number eight and he said he's better in that number eight position we was talking about number six with Rodri and Rodri goes and wins the Ballon d 'Or at the time.

10:45But I agree with you, Al. He's took his game to the next level, hasn't he? Incredible. I mean, when he runs with the ball, I mean, God blimey, doesn't he cover some ground? And then he's got the incredible delivery. I mean, he was so close to scoring when he charged through at the end. And actually, it was a brilliant save from Neuer with his feet. But I mean, he's become... I mean, can you imagine him and Bellingham as two-eighths either side and then someone like, you know, whether it's Anderson or maybe Wharton holding for England. I mean, that's a midfield. That is a midfield. That's the midfield, guys.

11:20You said it. That is it. Go with that. You can now start to talk about winning things, can't you? I would say so. Liverpool chaps, by contrast to Arsenal, I mean, none of us predicted this, but they're in a hole at the moment. I mean, to lose 4-1 at home to PSV, I mean, you know, you can have games where things go a little bit wrong, but they are conceding so many goals. What's happened? I mean, we've asked this before and, you know, we talked possibly, didn't we, about, you know, the loss of Diogo Jota and stuff. But I think there's more than that. I think they really are struggling to cope with teams that go at them.

12:10There's no harm in being beaten, but it's the way they're being beaten.

12:15Gary Lineker:When you score against them, it's like they basically crumble. It's like what on earth goes on. I mean, you look at Canate and Van Dijk, It's like I'm looking at two completely different players to what we saw last season. I mean, Canati is massively struggling, as is Van Dijk. He looks a yard at least short. I mean, I don't know what he was doing for the penalty with the handball. It was obviously a penalty. And I've also said, didn't I, it's not as if it's one position where there's a problem. I mean, there's a problem all over the park, which is why it's going to be so difficult to fix that.

12:52Who would have thought this just a few months ago? they won the league they were like incredible brilliant and we're always saying how tactically brilliant he was and now now there are question marks Mike you know yeah it happens though doesn't it I think he's had the backing it's just about coaching now I think Slott's a good manager you don't turn a bad manager overnight I just feel as though the players so if you look at someone like Van Dijk he almost played for two people at times didn't he whether he's organising he's now playing at the level of everyone else and he's not being able to help everyone around him at the moment because there's too many runners, not enough protection, there's too many changes and then you just can't get that cohesion, change a goalkeeper again, in, out and changing.

13:47But they just look flat. They look like they don't have the energy of old. Liverpool were good when they pressed. It's like when they're pressing now, they're just getting played round and then they can't get back. And I agree with Alan Canate. And I don't like singling people out. I don't think it's right. But they're making basic errors that I don't usually make. And then Sabozlai has had to play right back in games. He's a midfielder. And at the moment, it's just all over the place. But do I think Slott can turn it around? Yes. But I think the fans now are starting to question him. and rightly so because a result like that it's happening at Anfield if these were away performances although you don't expect it for Liverpool but you put your hand up and say you know what it is what it is but at home in front of your fans where it's usually a fortress that is what I can't get my head around it Nine defeats in 12 games

14:45Gary Lineker:Well that's a crisis by the way I think if it's any other football club you'll say okay but for Liverpool and for what they did last year to where they are now and how much they've spent. And as I said, it's the manner of the defeats that's a worrying thing, which is why it is a crisis. What is it, nine and 12 now, did you say? Yeah. Yeah, for any club that's tough, but for the size of a club of Liverpool, then yeah, it is, there's no doubt about it. Yeah, they're really in trouble and they've conceded three goals or more in three consecutive games now as well. First time for Dong 1992 or something.

15:28I think we were playing back then, Alan. It's that long ago. But it's difficult with a manager like that when he's done so well in the first season. But I think you can ask this question. Was the first season perhaps something of a knock-on effect from the Jurgen Klopp era? It's perhaps a little bit unfair. I don't know because obviously a new manager comes in and he did change things slightly and they did win the league, which they hadn't done previously for a little while. But is there an element of that and that gradually wears off and then there's a little bit of transition now or not? Because they've brought in obviously lots of new players.

16:04They've spent a bloody fortune, an absolute fortune on new players.

16:08Gary Lineker:No, I would be reluctant to say, I mean, he did an unbelievable job last year. It was incredible what he did. Agreed. I don't think you can ever take that away from him. Yes. What did he bring in? Keiser, was it? Other than that, they didn't bring anyone in, did they? No. Whereas this year, or this season, I should say, you're right. I mean, they've spent an absolute fortune. And the only one that's worked is Eketike. That's it. I mean, and he left him out at the weekend. I mean if I was him at the weekend I would say hang on it's not as if I'm this 25 or 30 million punt you've taken you've spent 85 million on me I'm the only one that's delivering for you and that you see fit to leave someone who's hardly played who's hardly done anything for the club in ESAC ahead of me that for me would think hang on what's happening here and I know we brought him back in tonight but at his sod's low he gets injured tonight and goes off and has to bring Isak on so yeah problems all over the park for Liverpool not just in forward areas defensively they look a mess they look all over the place so easy to play through so fragile so weak and that's why I don't see anything changing quickly because it's not just one problem they have to fix the leaders have got to step up haven't they Al I mean, if you look at the players that they have, it can't continue like this, surely.

17:50It can't, you know? I mean, just experience alone can get you through these difficult times. And you mentioned how much they've spent. They have to turn a corner soon. The next three games, Micah, West Ham, Sunderland, Leeds. Well, if there's a time to do it, now is the time. Because if they don't do it against those three, then people will really start. And, you know, the Anfield faithful will really, I mean, if they're not grumbling already, they'll really start grumbling from then on in. Before we take a break, quite a game between PSG and Spurs. I saw the highlights of that one. And a hat-trick for Vettinia.

18:31The first two he scored were absolute worldies.

18:36Gary Lineker:I think he changed it. He had to change it, didn't he, Thomas Frank? he changed his system completely from the weekend because he had to because if they play the same system they take another batter and then you can imagine what the backlash would be so he went in with a more traditional 4-4-2 and I thought they were a lot more positive going front I know they get pegged back I mean yeah they mentioned the strike the strike oh my goodness the keeper's getting nowhere near that just before half time as well and then his second goal but I thought they put up a bit more of a fight, Tottenham anyway.

19:11Gary Lineker:And at least, isn't it, if you're going to get beaten, you go down fighting. And at least they had a goal there tonight rather than last weekend in the North London derby. I thought Spurs got the tactics spot on tonight. And then at 2-2, they give a silly goal away and then you're on the back foot. They was on the front foot all game. They knew exactly what they needed to do. don't forget it was the Super Cup that Spurs took PSG to the penalties didn't they and that was in like the last what 10 minutes of the game so I thought the tactics were perfect and then sloppiness is costing them again and once you get one and get another you're not coming back it was down then to quality wasn't it PSG started dictating the game and then Spurs would never get back into it and I know a lot of people would say Spurs conceded a lot of goals.

20:06Yes, they were sloppy in defence, but they actually had a go. Totally agree with Alan on that. They look actually sharp at times. I thought young Archie Gray was brilliant for both goals. He was involved, a little bit more energy and Colin Mwani took his finishes really well. Two good goals from him. Four goals for Kylian Mbappe. I think he got the second quickest hat-trick ever in the competition behind Mo Salah. if you remember he got one a few years ago but six minute hat trick he looked sharp

20:38Gary Lineker:didn't he and he ended up getting four I mean it was another team playing a mad high line yeah I mean with his pace it's like it's like yeah but he looked he looked rapid he looked really sharp did Mbappé and his link up with Vinicius is just like there's a there's a great connection there imagine though like Olisse Mbappé and Dembele up front I know France oh my god we talk about what we've got what have France got yeah and don't forget Eketike as well Eketike he's French Desiree Douai you know what I mean oh they've got some players them them and Spain fabulous and I would say England as well we've got you know a talent pool which is very much looking forward to the World Cup but at the moment I'm looking forward to the second half back in a moment