Wayne Backs Gyökeres & Are Liverpool Still In Title Race?

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0:29Snapdragon, that's how. Ever invest in something that seemed incredible at first, but didn't live up to the hype? Like those$5 roses at a gas station, or a second-hand piece of technology that breaks in the first 10 minutes? Marketers know that feeling. We optimize for the numbers that look great, impressions, reach, and reacts. But when they don't show revenue, well, that's a not-so-great conversation with the CFO. LinkedIn has a word for that. Bull spend. Now you can invest in what looks good to your CFO. LinkedIn ads generates the highest ROAS of all major ad networks. You'll reach the right buyers because you can target by company, industry, job title, and more.

1:15So cut the bull spend. Advertise on LinkedIn, the network that works for you. Spend$250 on your first campaign on LinkedIn ads and get a 250 credit for the next one. Just go to linkedin.com slash broadcast. That's linkedin.com slash broadcast. Terms and conditions apply. Obviously Harry Kane's the captain, but he's the future captain of England. How much would it take you to get in the ring of AJ? I don't know. If Liverpool hit a run of form and win games, you never rule them out. When I first joined Manchester United, we could never have music if we weren't allowed it. But then And Alex Ferguson then allowed it.

2:00And it was...

2:05Welcome to the Wayne Rooney Show. Kelly, it's Kelly's birthday, so she doesn't want to start off with it, so I will. Happy birthday, Kelly. Happy birthday, Kelly. We're not going to ask how old she is because obviously you don't ask a woman her age. However... Or a man, by the way. I'm 35 and I don't mind saying it because for a while on social media, there was a thing where people were saying I was 37 and I was about 30 at the time. So now I'm, I'm bagging the drum. I'm actually, I'm 35 and I'm not worried about that. It's not old. Yeah. Well, I'm older than you. So I'm the youngest here. It's great.

2:38Yeah. That's brilliant. Oh, well, thanks. Thanks. Yeah. Well, happy birthday. Hope you have a great day after this anyway. There's nothing more I wanted to do than to do a podcast with you guys. It's exactly what I hoped for. Hey, this is what dreams are made of. Come on. It is doing a podcast with Kay Curd and Wayne Rooney. Exactly what I wanted. Thanks for that. Yeah, okay, let's start by telling everyone it's actually, we're recording this on a Sunday morning because there's only one game taking place on Sunday evening. I know it's Manchester United, but there was so much to talk about from Saturday.

3:07So we'll talk about all the football that happened. Firstly, though, just a quick word. Did anyone watch Anthony Joshua's fight on Friday? I watched bits of it. And I mean, there was a lot of hugging going on from Jake Paul's side, wasn't there? Yeah, well, you know what? I think fair play obviously they've both been paid a lot of money but I think fair play to him to get in the ring that's not Joshua he must have a Sutton a screw loose in his head 100 % well he's got a few screws probably in his jaw now but he's that was always going to happen at some point where I think AJ took his time a little bit could have got him out there earlier but it was a big shot he took and fair play he broke his jaw in two places but I was thinking for like for a was it 150 mil or something like that.

3:55You could break Manchur four times, bro. Yeah, well, you could see, couldn't you? He knew in his face as soon as he took that punch. You could see his reaction. But no, fair play to him. I think it's mad. It's crazy. It probably should never have been sanctioned, but fair play. How much did it take you to get in a ring with AJ? I don't know. You tried to get in a ring with Bellew for a price. No, listen, it's a different level. There's heavyweights and a two-time world champion to get in the ring with him. I don't think he would, but fair play to Jake Paul, man. He's crazy, I think. Okay, we'll get on to football in a moment, but another thing that I noticed this week that you shared on social media, Wayne, Luke Littler, you've become a bit of a trendsetter, haven't you, with this?

4:45Yeah, I've seen that. That's what happens. we talk about the shumper and Luke Littler is in one as well now so there'll be a few more coming out soon you'll see I actually realised recently I bought a jumper that had a shirt underneath it that was attached I have taken it back give a bee stick for it I didn't really realise what it was I thought it was a top and a jumper and it came and it really made me laugh it didn't fit me and I've sent it back but Luke Littler is obviously a trendsetter we need to get him on this podcast at some point do you know him Wayne? I've met him a few times yeah he's a nice lad obviously he's a lot younger than me but it's great to see what he's doing I think he's a massive part of the change in prize money in that he's incredible Have you ever been to the dot?

5:39Yeah I went last year actually in Manchester I haven't been to Ali Pally to watch it I've seen Ed Sheeran went to go quite a bit of stick so I was thinking if he's getting a stick then I'm definitely going to get it. Yeah well Madison's been there as well hasn't he? He goes quite often. I reckon it'll be a fun day out man. Come on we can go in fancy dress and no one knows it for you. Anyway let's talk about football and let's start with Tottenham versus Liverpool. What a game that was particularly in the second half. Spurs ended the game with nine men of course Liverpool won 2-1. Xavi Simons and Christian Romero both sent off.

6:14Let's start with We obviously had Xavi Simmonds on the podcast a few weeks ago and it was a really fascinating chat. If you haven't listened to it, I thoroughly recommend it because he's had a remarkable career. He just hit his stride, hadn't he, at Spurs Wayne and then he got that red card. What did you make of it? Yeah, it was a strange one. I was in the boardroom at Everton watching it. It was on in the background and I thought it was a strange red card because obviously Van Dijk's is captain for Holland as well and so I wouldn't think that he's meant to do it but I think it's just probably a rush of blood to his head.

6:52I think what's happened is I don't think he was having a particularly good game. I think he was running around trying to look like, you know, trying to do something to get himself amped up and try and feel like he's part of it and then he's just done something silly but he's come out on social media apologising to the fans and everyone else saying that he'd never mean to hurt Virgil van Dijk intentionally but yeah just I think it's one of those where it's a learning experience for him he'll look back on it in a few years and he'll learn how to manage manage emotions like that a bit better It was one of those games wasn't it where so much happened particularly in that second half as I said but Tottenham were getting really wound up weren't they there was kind of a lot of fouls and it just felt like they were all playing on the edge a little bit Wayne did it feel like that watching it?

7:37Yeah because I weren't watching it with as much detail as I normally would because I was where I was but yeah I think sometimes it's better and I think in the big games as well but playing on that edge you're at risk of overflowing a little bit and I think with the two red cards the second red card is the Romero one I think is soft I think Canate's played on it a little bit but yeah I think playing on that edge you're at danger of getting a red card or something's going to be happening but the outcomes can be much better when you're playing that edge. I think that's what people want to see as well.

8:15What have you made of Spurs recently, Wayne? Because I know the Spurs fans, there's been a bit of discontent in terms of the style of play. And with Thomas Frank, where do you think Spurs are at at the moment? Yeah, they're struggling a bit, aren't they? I think Thomas Frank, I really like him. I think he's a really top manager. But I think he will come under a bit of pressure, sadly. But the Tottenham fans are not too pleased. But yeah, I think they're struggling. The recruitment's been terrible. Like you look at some of the players there as well, in that squad as well. I look at some of the starters they have, like Bentancur, Archie Gray, Kolo Mouane, Vacario.

8:55I don't necessarily think these are players that can take you to the next level. And you look at somebody like Bergwahl, who's probably their most creative player, and it says it all. What about Liverpool then? Because, I mean, they had a tricky few weeks, of course, but it feels like maybe they're finding their feet again. They've moved up to fifth. And I mean, Eketike is in brilliant form as well, isn't he, Wayne? Yeah, he is. He's been one of, if not the best signing in the Premier League. And fair play to him because the pressure on him must have been huge because obviously he cost quite a bit of money as well.

9:30but with Liverpool being Vert in and Isak there's a huge amount of pressure on him to try and get in the team and he's been the one who's the most consistent one for them in terms of scoring goals and his overall play has been really good and he's playing with a bit of an attitude which I like as well from him so yeah he's been really good, I think Liverpool has come back into form which I'm sure obviously for Arnie Slott is good so yeah unfortunately hopefully that doesn't continue but yeah I have to give them credit to go to Tottenham even though Tottenham are in the best run of form it's always a difficult place to go so to go there and win the way they did fair play to them Do you know what I don't think it's a resurgence I think the league is quite competitive at the moment I think one loss can put you further down in the table one loss can take you right up into the European spots it's just that competitive of a league I don't think like necessarily that they're back.

10:31I mean, they didn't look incredible. They look more solid. They look like, you know, they're not conceding as many goals. They look like they're working together to not concede goals and they definitely look more solid. It's a good building block though, isn't it? Yeah, of course. And with the attacking players on the team, if you don't concede goals, then obviously you've got a better chance to win games. And when you say about going back to basics, which I've said on here quite a few times, It looks like what defensively they've said, we're going to be harder to beat, we're going to be hard to play against, hard to score against, and then you rely on your forward players to go win you the game.

11:08And it sounds simple, but that looks like what they've done and that's obviously helping them. Yeah, it's an interesting league actually, isn't it? It does feel like Arsenal and City are kind of way up there and then it's quite combested with the likes of Chelsea, Liverpool and teams like that. You forgot Villa. Yeah, sorry. Villa haven't played as I said Wayne don't get me in trouble with the Villa fans please that's what I'm saying it feels like Arsenal and Man City are kind of up there as the two best teams at the moment yeah it looks like it looks like they'll be the two to break away Liverpool as well I think you know if Liverpool hit a run of form and you know and win games you never rule them out because especially if they get you know their support behind them then Nike as I say wouldn't rule them out but Arsenal and City are the two which I think will break away.

11:59Villa have done fantastic. Certainly in terms of the Premier League, I think it'll be one of the top two. Okay, we were talking about Arsenal then. They got a big win at Everton. Wayne, you were there. You mentioned it already. You were in the boardroom. That felt like a really significant win for Arsenal because they've kind of had a bit of a wobble lately and Everton played well, made it really difficult for them. Yeah, but do you know what I loved about the game? Obviously, I didn't love the result because I wanted Everton to win, but what I loved about it is at the end of the game full-time whistle the Arsenal players are flat out they're lying on the back you can see them knackered and that's as a fan that's what you want to see from your players you want to see them you know they're giving everything to win the game and the game management towards the end was brilliant and I have to say Declan Rice is incredible it was a pleasure watching he was all over the pitch and his decision making when to pass it where to pass it what foot to pass it to his detail on his pass and it was a pleasure to watch he was absolutely incredible He seems like one of those players where you could play him anywhere and he'll do a good job for you Yeah, well yes he's taking the ball off he's come in he's splitting the centre-backs he's taking the ball off the centre-backs acting as a third centre-back then next minute he's in the box trying to score a goal there's detail of his passes picking up second balls always landing on balls and sometimes some of the stuff he does goes a little bit underrated but he was absolutely incredible What kind of stuff do you think goes under the radar that he does?

13:34Just the way you land on second balls and the work he's doing to get himself in the right position to do that and you think why does the ball always fall to him when a defender had to clear and stuff because he's anticipating really well, he's putting himself in the right positions and then he gets it, then there's detail of whether he drives forward or whether he slows the game down. He was brilliant. By far the best player in the PHS team. He's going to be so important, isn't he, for England as well. You kind of feel like for Arsenal, if they are to go on and win something this season, they need him to keep fit.

14:06And for England as well, for the World Cup, he just feels like he's huge. He is. For me, he's obviously Harry Kane's the captain, but he's the future captain of England. For me, he's the one who's probably waiting for Harry to hang his boots up at some point and then he's the right one to take over for me because just his driver's personality is everyone seems to love him who knows him who's close to him and so yeah he's just you know he's irreplaceable for England He's got a great attitude doesn't he and he seems like the kind of guy that's always up for a good time but within reason and he doesn't get silly with it do you know what I mean he doesn't take himself too seriously while also leading by example which is lovely to see.

14:51Yeah, no, he's so important for both Arsenal and England. And just watching him yesterday, watching him live and how he went about his job yesterday was a pleasure. What about Victor Jokeres? He scored the winning goal from the penalty spot. It's his first goal since November. He was their big summer signing. What have you made of him and the way he's adapting to the Arsenal team? Can I start? I think, look, playing in the Portuguese league, it was always going to be hard to come and adapt to the Premier League. When you took a deeper dive into his stats, a lot of his goals came against bottom half opposition in the Portuguese league.

15:31So that's why when he was being linked with United, I wasn't really sold on him. I know he got a few goals in the Champions League and stuff as well. But when you're a big player and you rely on your physicality and you come to a league where defenders aren't just going to be a pushover, it's a bit of a shock I think you need to give him a season but it was good from the Arsenal players people like Odegaard and whatever to give him the penalty to sort of boost up his game See I disagree as a forward at 0-0 your penalty taker should be taking the penalty I think if the game's done the game's won then yeah but you know at 0-0 your penalty taker has to be the one if he misses that then it's there's a problem But even for his confidence though, wouldn't it boost his confidence?

16:16Yeah, I know, but I think your penalty is your penalty for a reason. He should be the one to take the penalty and I completely get it. I've given penalties to people who need the goal, but we've been three or four and a lot. At nil-nil, I know he's number nine, your goal scorer, but you're doing it for confidence, but your penalty should be the one to take the penalty in a big game away from home when you're going to try and win the league. So I think, thankfully, from Arsenal's point of view, he scored. But it should have been, whether it's Olegado or Saka, whoever the penalty ticket is, I think they should have took him.

16:51It's worked now. It's obviously worked now. But if they miss, then I think that's a big issue. I think it's hard for Arsenal as well, because for so often they've been playing with people like Havertz in that position or Gabriel Jesus, which they're a very different type of striker to what Jokeres is. so I mean you could put all the blame on Jokka Ress as well but I think at times you sort of need other players to know how to play with a player like that See I think I think he does more than what you see I think yeah he hasn't scored the goals which obviously he scored in the Portuguese league but I think he does a bit more than what you see like even last night he occupies the two centre-backs and he occupied Tarkowski and Michael Keane I thought Michael Keane was brilliant again yes he's been really good for Everton but what he does he occupies them so that creates a bit more space then for your number 10 or your wide players who are coming inside or it just keeps the centre-backs on their toes and makes them aware that he's there and it creates a little bit more space for other players so I think he is important for Arsenal he's doing a job for Arsenal which helps other players he just hasn't got the goals which you'd expect from him Can he be the difference because obviously So you look at Man City and you think that Haaland is probably going to be the difference for them.

18:11He scores the big goals. Admittedly, Phil Foden does at the moment too. But can Jokeres be the difference? Because it feels like for years we've been saying that Arsenal need the number nine. Is he the man to help them win the title? Well, he'll certainly help if that's what they go on to do and win the title. So, yeah, I think what I said before, he's freeing other players. Like last season, we've seen the ball going out wide. and Devin Rice was actually the one who was going to be that present in the penalty box for Arsenal and doing probably a bit more work than he had to because he lacked that number nine last season.

18:46And that's what I mean about where he is giving other players a bit more space and you maybe don't see it, it's not eye-catching, but he does occupy the centre-back. So I think he's doing a job for Arsenal. Could he be better? Of course he can. Should he score more goals playing in that team? Yeah, he should. but I think if Arsenal got to win the league then he'll have had a big role to play.

19:33the world is here. Snapdragon, that's how. Ever invest in something that seemed incredible at first, but didn't live up to the hype? Like those$5 roses at a gas station, or a second-hand piece of technology that breaks in the first 10 minutes? Marketers know that feeling. We optimize for the numbers that look great, impressions, reach, and reacts. But when they don't show revenue, well, Well, that's a not-so-great conversation with the CFO. LinkedIn has a word for that. Bull spend. Now you can invest in what looks good to your CFO. LinkedIn ads generates the highest ROAS of all major ad networks.

20:14You'll reach the right buyers because you can target by company, industry, job title, and more. So cut the bull spend. Advertise on LinkedIn. The network that works for you. Spend$250 on your first campaign on LinkedIn ads and get a 250 credit for the next one. Just go to linkedin.com slash broadcast. That's linkedin.com slash broadcast. Terms and conditions apply. Definitely.

20:50One of the things that I saw Saka and Jokrez did post-match interview on TV and Saka was quite honest and he said, we should have killed the game off. They had opportunities, didn't they? And I guess, obviously, they're brilliant defensively and they've got key defenders back, so that probably helped them. But it was perhaps surprising that they didn't take more chances, Kay. I mean, yeah, I know, but it was... David Moy's teams are hard to play against, man. Like, it's all very well and good. It's a good saying we should have killed it off. But, like, it is hard playing against Everton. I mean, United played them with 10 men and couldn't get anything out of the game.

21:25They had two chances, didn't they? Trossard did the post, that's a great chance. That would have been some goal, by the way. I was watching that build-up play, and it came from the goalkeeper, went round the back, played through Everton, that would have been an incredible goal. He should score. And then they had to post a game. But other than that, I don't think Pickford had a save to make. Other than that, and same with David Ray, I didn't really have a save to make. So then you look at the difference, does Arsenal get the penalty, Everton don't? and it was crazy from Jake O 'Brien it's a stupid penalty giveaway it was a clear penalty but I think that everyone should have a penalty as well I think the defender's gone to try and clear the ball he missed times and he boots Beto was it and and send him to the ground and so it's a penalty for me and it come up on the big screen at the stadium and explained why it wasn't a penalty and there weren't enough contact.

22:25I saw a lot of Everton fans complaining about it online. He's gone to volley the ball out of his penalty box. Doesn't get the ball and it's the forward. For me, at times it's a penalty. And what was it like, Wayne, being in, you were in the director's box, did you say? Yeah, no, it was obviously been a few times now to New Stadium and it's really good. And I think it'll get better and better. I don't have you down as the prawn sandwich brigade, Wayne. Yeah, no, I couldn't turn it down. I was sat with Adrian Eaton and Duncan Ferguson. There's no way you can not go to that and be sat with them and their company.

22:59But no, it was really nice.

23:04Nice to be back there. Kai was with me yesterday as well. He'd come to watch and Colleen was over the other side of the stand with me youngest. So you got to go in the director's box and Colleen didn't? She was on the other side. No, she was in Jack Grealish's box, to be fair. Oh, OK. I thought you meant that you'd made her go and sit in, like... No, she has a chop. I've got four season tickets, which I haven't been on them yet, but she takes... No, only goes and sits in the stands with me youngest lad, yeah. It's nice to go with me kids, go back, because I remember going with my dad and my uncles to watch Everton when I was, obviously, a kid.

23:38So now with my kids playing, you don't know how many matches a day, you don't always get a chance. So when you get a chance, it's actually nice to go back and take my kids and keep that family tradition going. how fun is it sitting next to Duncan Ferguson when you used to when is he coming on the podcast as well we need to get him on yeah no he said yes he will come on so we'll get him on at some point but no it's still mad obviously he was my hero growing up and to play with him and he's always good fun and good company to be with okay well talking of someone that's obviously heavily associated with Everton as well Dominic Calvert-Lewin has had a real resurgence hasn't he at Leeds at the moment.

24:18He scored twice as Leeds beat Palace 4-1 at Ellen Road. That's six goals in five games. He's the first Leeds player to score in five successive Premier League games since Mark Viduka back in August 2003. I don't know why, I've always just had a soft spot for him, Wayne. I've always enjoyed watching Dominic Calvert-Lewin. I'm just really pleased to see him back playing well. Yeah, no, delighted for him. Everything can do with him. So, but do you know what he is? if he's fit he's I think Everton made the right decision in terms of you know over the last couple of seasons he was never fit really and he was out of contract so I think it would have been very difficult for Everton to give him a new contract with his injury record but he's gone to Leeds he's kept himself fit he must be you know the physios are doing a good job with him there and if he's fit he's such a handful to play against to obviously play with him and what I was saying about occupying defenders he does that he competes he's great in the air he's good in in both boxes and when he's in a run of form and scoring goals like he is then he's a handful to play against so I'm pleased to see him scoring I was almost surprised that not a lot of other clubs came in for him during the summer because I would have taken him as a backup striker at United well there was talks he was linked but I think purely not because of his ability as a player but purely because of his injury it was very difficult for anyone to take that chance and take up a spot and spend the money on him and I remember when there was talk of Leeds taking him and maybe going on as a pay-as-you-play and stuff like that and that's where he was with his injuries and you forget he's still quite young he's still got a bit left in him and you forget how good a player he is and seeing him now and the goals he's scored in form confident he's you know if he continues this then there's no reason why he shouldn't be talked or even get an opportunity to go to the World Cup purely because of the lack of forwards that England have got How serious is this form and how seriously should Thomas Tuchel be looking at Dominic Calvert-Lewin-Wayne for next summer?

26:32In this moment in time obviously Olly Watkins has come back into form as well I think you go with Olly Watkins over Dominic but in this moment in time he's put himself in a position where Thomas Tuchel will have to be looking at him

26:52to take him. He's given himself a chance. I think that's all I could say. I wouldn't say because of what's happened over the last couple of weeks he should be going in. He needs to keep this form up until the end of the season and then he gives himself a real chance but at the minute he'll be making Thomas Tuchel and his coaches look at him for sure I was going to ask you see with things like fitness does a change of environment sometimes help like when you're going to a new club their physios or the training regime there might be a little bit different so it helps you in certain ways does that have an effect or is it or is it just yeah and I think when he's signed for Leeds as well I'm sure Dale have looked at all his past and the injuries he's had and I'm sure they'll be managing and whatever them issues were.

27:44When you've been in a club for a long time, they've probably got all the injuries he's had and it just feels like this is never going to end. It just gives you that freshness to go in, fresh in your mind. There's probably been a pamper in place by Leeds, which I'm sure Everton had as well, but just fresh eyes on it, fresh team on it. It gives you that comfort that you can go out and play and that looks like that's what's happened. You were at Everton with him, Wayne, weren't you? So what was he like as a teammate? What kind of person was he and what kind of player was he to play with? Yeah, no, he was a good personality.

28:21Always worked at Duncan Ferguson. He did a lot of work with him one-on-one as well in the penalty box. Yeah, he was a good teammate. The leap on him, we used to do box jumps and I've never seen anyone jump as high from a standing jump. Incredible. So, you know, we knew he had ability. And then I think when Ancelotti came in, he was in his best form for Everton. And then, unfortunately, he got his injuries. So, no, really happy to see him back doing what he's doing. And, yeah, when he's 30, he's tough for any defender. I was going to ask about his fashion as well. He wears some interesting stuff, doesn't he?