Football Daily - Liverpool win Premier League & Crystal Palace into FA Cup final

Episode Date: April 27, 2025

Katie Smith is joined by Nigel Reo-Coker and The Telegraph’s Luke Edwards. Also hear from Arne Slot, Andy Robertson and Liverpool fan Josh live from Anfield after their title triumph. And catch up with Oliver Glasner after Crystal Palace make it through to only their third ever FA Cup final. The panel also chat through Man City’s Wembley win over Nottingham Forest, the race for European football and Ipswich Town’s relegation.08:10 Arne Slot INTERVIEW 11:30 Liverpool fan Josh LIVE from Anfield 15:45 Andy Robertson INTERVIEW 20:45 Tottenham thumped at start of important week 24:30 Oliver Glasner INTERVIEW 29:50 Was Nigel disappointed by Villa? 35:05 Man City come through Forest semi 39:20 Race for Europe hots up 43:55 Ipswich Town officially relegated 46:20 Arsenal through to Women’s Champions League finalBBC Sounds / 5 Live commentaries this week: Tue 2000 Arsenal v PSG in the UEFA Champions League, Wed 2015 Man Utd v Chelsea in the Women’s Super League, Thu 2000 Athletic Club v Man Utd in the UEFA Europa League, Thu 2000 Tottenham v Bodø/Glimt in the UEFA Europa League.

This BBC podcast is supported by ads outside the UK. Welcome to the Inside Track with me Rick Edwards. This is the podcast that takes you inside Formula One and Red Bull Racing like never before. And I'm Matt Magindian. Thanks to my exclusive access I'll be getting up close and personal with the Red Bull Racing team this season. This week we're focusing on that five second penalty for Max Verstappen. I don't see any world in which you could say that, oh no, that was fine. And we're getting very excited about a sit-down interview with the big dog team principal, Christian Horner. Experience Formula One like never before by

tuning into the Inside Track, wherever you get your podcasts. BBC Sounds music radio podcast The Football Daily podcast Listen on BBC Sounds Hello and welcome to the Football Daily as Liverpool win the Premier League title Liverpool lead by five, goals to one, fireworks being let off outside the stadium 5 goals to 1, fireworks being let off outside the stadium. Vicarrio catches the ball, they're forming a line ready to celebrate. They said five years ago that it didn't feel real. Well, it feels real now.

Five years ago, due to Covid and social distancing, they were unable to celebrate. The only distance now is the 15 points that Liverpool have at the top of the Premier League, and for the first time in 12,783 days they are able to celebrate in front of their own supporters. Liverpool are back on that perch, it's a record-equalling 20th Top-Light title. Fairly deserved, and congratulations to Liverpool and all the fans as well. And then so today, you want to walk out on your last day, when you win it, to come off thinking that's why we're champions and they did it today and it's a lovely feeling as a player if the moment is that special and it is beautiful and you have scored the goals and you can celebrate with comfort with the joy of it

with the pure pleasure of knowing you deserve it, you're the best team, you play great football, and you're going to get better next year. What a great feeling it is around this place. They're celebrating, and this is just the start. There must be at least 20 red smoke bombs that have been let off, not just in the Kop, not just in the Sekelydau Glish stand, not just in the Anfield Road stand away towards the left, but also in the main stand as a line of stewards have formed. Not one supporter has entered the pitch here at Anfield.

And with the sun still shining and so much clear blue sky, Liverpool have so much daylight at the top of the Premier League. And they are going to enjoy this because they are the champions of England, beating Tottenham Hotspur by five goals to one. So that was Ian Dennis and Pat Nevin alongside him at Anfield calling that moment on Five Live. So we've got reactions and interviews to come on the Football Daily. We'll also talk FA Cup with Crystal Palace and Manchester City both through to the final. It's gone up another gear again in the race for European football for next season as well. I'm Katie Smith and with us today to go through it all former West Ham and Villa midfielder Nigel Rio, Koca, the Telegraphs, Luke Edwards and I believe

you two you've been kept apart since August haven't you? And we finally for the big occasion we brought you back together. Yeah I think it's because we bicker constantly like a married couple. So yeah, for some reason, the schedulers have kept us apart, but reunited for Liverpool's big day, Nigel. Yeah, the two bad boys are back in play. What a day it is, you know, record equal in the title for Liverpool and that they bring us two back. Unbelievable day. Yeah, it's interesting what kind of energy they want on this podcast this evening. It'd be nothing but positive energy. Liverpool were the best team in August.

They were the best team in September. They've been the best team every month of the season, the most consistent. There are no arguments. They are the best team in the country. I fought for a while. They were the best team in Europe as well. Unfortunately, they fell short against Paris Saint-Germain, but a wonderful, magical, famous, memorable campaign for them. And I'm thrilled for them. And I hope every Liverpool supporter, those on Merseyside and those scattered around the rest of the country, like the many people I grew up with in East London, they celebrate their day. But yeah, it's great news and richly and fully deserved.

Well, and actually, we should say, Nigel, the scenes at Anfield, inside, outside, just across the red side of Liverpool today. Fantastic, because really, this campaign was so much longer in the making, wasn't it? We go back to that Covid season where they won essentially behind closed doors. And actually, I'm going to steal this from me and Dennis. It therefore makes it 12,783 days since fans were able to celebrate a Liverpool title win in the stadium. It was absolutely amazing. This is what they wanted the most.

You know, there was conversations early on in the season about the treble. Are they going to do the treble? What an amazing season this is going to be. The impact of Arnie Slott, how he's just taken it taken to Liverpool and the Premier League like Dr. Walter. But when you spoke to some of the fans and real hardcore Liverpool fans, they wanted this more than anything else, just because they didn't get to celebrate the last Premier League title. And it's also the fact of how befitting is it that they get to celebrate this one while equal in Manchester United with 20 domestic titles each.

It really means so much to the fans and they're so happy and for the players as well just to be there and do it at Anfield and be there with the fans. And again, you talk about consistency like Luke said, they've been fantastic. They thoroughly deserve to win the Premier League title. I couldn't stand it sometimes when people are being negative about, oh, they don't deserve to win it. The Premier League's been boring this year. How's it been boring? Because a team has shown week in, week out that they can be the best team and go and get the result and do the job at a very professional level and be consistent. You know, credit to Liverpool. And I also think we've got to give a lot of credit to Arnie Slott, the manager,

you know, because there's not one pundit, one ex player or anyone who thought at the start of this season, that Liverpool will be the ones to win the Premier League title because of the void of Jurgen Klopp. How was Arnie Slott was going to come in and fill in that void? And was he a big enough personality? It's such a big club. Was he ready for Liverpool? People even questioned Arnie Slott's appointment. And look what he's done without any major signings.

He's gone in there and won the Premier League title and he thoroughly deserves so much credit. There were some disparaging things said about him when he took the job. Nigel said, would it be too big for him? Yeah, he had done it at fire Nord in the Netherlands But people talked about Eric ten hogs struggling at Manchester United He'd done it in the Netherlands of IAX In fact, he'd won more with IAX than then honest lot had done with fire Nord

So he was under quite a lot of pressure You know people were talking about the influence that Jürgen Klopp had And it being similar to when arsene Wenger left Arsenal, or when Alex Ferguson left Manchester United, that Liverpool would go into decline. So he deserves all the credit in the world for coming into that position. And I think also we have to give Jurgen Klopp

a lot of credit. I think there's some really good pieces out there at the moment talking about, Jurgen Klopp wanted his successor to succeed. The most important thing that he did of course was left him a very, very good football team with the Premier League's best player in Mo Salah, the best centre back in Virgil van Dijk

and world-class players all over the pitch. So that was the most important thing. But I think when you talk to people at Anfield, they were communicating before Slot took the job. They were in regular contact. And the fact that, you know, it's a measure of the man actually at Jürgen Klopp because a lot of managers, they wouldn't have wanted their successor to succeed. You know, Jürgen Klopp only won one Premier League.

He wouldn't have wanted Arnold Slott to come in and do that and other people would not have wanted their manager to come in, but he did and he helped him with that transition. It's been called the, dubbed the Immaculate Transition. Insiders at Anfield are calling it. And Slots benefited from that, but just a wonderful job. You know, you can have all the best players on the pitch, but we've seen lots of teams fail doing that. And they just showed against Tottenham, they were a level above Spurs,

and they've been a level above the vast majority of the Premier League all season and the best team by some distance. Well, yeah, and I mean, arguably, he's taken a Klopp squad and made it better. Let's hear from the victorious boss then, Arnest Slot. Yeah, the people who know me know that the lead we have should be really, really, really comfortable before I start to believe it's done.

But 5-1 with 10-15 minutes to play. Even you? Even me start to enjoy the last 10-15 minutes to play. Even you? Even me start to enjoy the last 10-15 minutes. But looking back at it, I've enjoyed the whole day when we arrived at the stadium, all the fans that were there, you could just looking in their eyes, see how much it meant to them today. And I think from that moment on, I think the players felt it, everyone felt it during the game as well, that it was impossible for us not to get that point or not to get that win today.

Now, I know always you say it about the players and I understand why you say that, but you've added your name to a roster that includes Bill Shankly, Bob Paisley, Kenny Daigleish, of course, Jürgen, very, very recently. I mean, what does that mean to you personally? Sure, Kenny. Sir Kenny, sorry. Yes, you are absolutely right. That means a lot.

It means a lot to be part of the history of such a great football club, which has such a great history. To be part of it, to win the league, that is something really, really, really special. And yeah, what else is there to say? It's unbelievable that we've achieved this. And that from now, from this moment on, we're some part of this history of this great football club. And talking about legendary managers,

to be fair, in that dressing room, you also have some legendary players here, don't you? Yeah, we definitely do, but that's the only way to win this league. If you don't have the quality players like we have, it's impossible to win it. And even if you have them, it's still very hard to win it because all the other teams, not all of them, but a few others have them as well. But we showed great consistency throughout the season.

We showed great character, mentality, and very good football in large parts of games and large parts of the season as well. And that's why I think I can fairly say we definitely deserved to win this league title. And can I just ask, there's always people behind the scenes, you know, those unsung heroes that are around the football club. I mean, you know, who have they been this season? And is it friends and family as well who've helped you adjust to life here in England? Oh yeah, but it's the players who have to do it and their friends and their family and their children and wives are very very important to them because you have to sacrifice a lot. As a football player you cannot be always there especially in a

country like this where we play every three days so we have to be really thankful to them but it's it's the players who always are there everybody notice what they do the manager nine out of ten times also but it's the players who always are there, everybody noticed what they do, the manager nine out of ten times also, but it's the whole staff, the whole training centre, everyone who's involved did an amazing job to keep them not only fit but to keep them happy and I think every single day I arrived at the training ground I felt the energy, I felt everyone being happy, staff members, players and that's the biggest compliment any staff member can get. I felt the energy, I felt everyone being happy, staff members, players, and that's the biggest compliment

any staff member can get. You have a great smile on it, many, many congratulations, well done. Thank you. Arne Slot there talking to Gary Flintoff, so he's one from one winning the Premier League title at the first time of asking with Liverpool in his first season in the Premier League.

And I've got Luke and Nigel with me, but I'm gonna bring in someone who's even more excited than they are this evening to be talking about all of this. We've got Josh Sexton from the Anfield Wrap. Josh, where do we find you? Outside Anfield, outside a pub at the moment but it feels like I'm in the centre of the universe possibly because there are so many people here, so many people we all love and adore. We're in win the league title. How's the afternoon been for you then? Was there any moment of a jeopardy for you? No, it doesn't feel like it to be honest. It feels like since the Arsenal result in the week,

we've come into this one knowing that the jeopardy is not really there. The idea of drawing at home to Tottenham is more than manageable for this Liverpool side really. So to come into it and then come away with a 5-1 win, there's such a consummate performance in Liverpool. Sort of sums up the season for me really, like that's the way this team has been all season and we get to celebrate and bask in that glory for so much longer now. Can I just take you back to last summer when Arna slot got the job,

how did you feel about that appointment at the time? I think you'd be wrong if you're a Liverpool fan and you didn't say you felt some level of scepticism. Jürgen Quart was such an all-encompassing figure for the Reds that you'd be wrong to say like, oh, you thought this Liverpool captain is a head coach, his head coach was coming in and if you'd feel like he wasn't going to come and replace everything that Jürgen brought, sorry, it's getting so loud. We feel like he wasn't going to encompass everything Jürgen brought. Then maybe you wouldn't be able to bring the same sort of level of football that Jürgen

brought because Jürgen brought so much more on top of just the football he played on the pitch, which obviously excellent for so much of Jürgen's time. So you'd be wrong to think you wouldn't be skeptical in some level or, you know, a little bit, I think fans probably a little bit divided over who's not coming in. But those same fans are not divided anymore. We're so unanimous in our vote that this was the right man for the job. And he has stuck us to the league title. Josh, unlike Luke wanting to take you back, I want to take you forward now.

Now that you've secured the Premier League title, next year as a fan, what will mean more to you? Is it another Premier League title or would you say now would you push for more Champions League trophy? Nigel, you know what it's like as a player like you're you're always on the next big thing, don't you? Like you always want to like double down on any success you have and keep going and push for more. So we will want the Premier League title next season. We'll want a lot. We'll look for football club. You know, we exist to win trophies. We exist to be at the top of the Premier League and to be at the top of Europe's top table as well. So I'm going to ask for the lot next season.

Like, I'm not going to temper my expectations whatsoever. To be honest, Nigel, like I'm outside this pub in Liverpool. I think if you ask anyone around here, they would not be tempering their expectations. We all want the lot. Did you see Mo Salah's selfie celebration after his goal? Did you manage to get in the picture? I'm not in the picture.

We were in the front for the road end. So I'm not in the picture, but I've seen on Instagram since. I mean what a fella like, you know, for Mo Salah to come and be so embraced by Liverpool after not being embraced by Chelsea, after, you know, taking the knocks that he has in his career. I think the good thing people don't talk about Mo Salah really, is that Mo Salah is a player who has, you know, taking the knocks that he has in his career. I think the thing people don't talk about Mo Salah really is that Mo Salah is a player who has, you know, suffered some critics in his career

and suffered from bad form and things like that in his career. For him to come to Liverpool and be as consistent as he has been over so many seasons, be so brilliant for us, sign a new two-year deal now, and go on to be the player that we all, we all, you know, know and love for Liverpool is the best thing ever for me. Like, he is the greatest Liverpool legend. My boss, like St. Louis says, the greatest Liverpool is Don't Come From Liverpool.

And Mo Salah is right up there in the top three for me. Josh, a couple of things just from me. How long till you lose your voice? And secondly, how does it feel to get back onto that 20 Premier League title? I think Jamie Carragher has written today in The Telegraph that it proves that Liverpool are the biggest and most successful club in the country. Would you agree with those sentiments? I agree with that, Jamie Carragher says. And listen, I'm on the radio at 6am tomorrow, Rick Edwards. So if you ask me when I'm going to lose my voice, probably some point between

me and Rick speaking to each other will be the point where I lose my voice. Other than that, we're all just going to soak this in. We're all going to enjoy this so much. I hope I see Jamie Kerrigan tonight in the Pussys Centre. We'll have a lovely time here, Jamie, together. Josh, it's been great to chat. We're going to let you go. Thanks so, so much. And enjoy your night.

Yeah, enjoy your night. Thank you so much for having us on the Reds. Well, that was Josh at the centre of the universe. Sounds like the place to be this evening. Let's see who else has lost their voice then. We've got some reaction from Andy Robertson. Yeah, it means the world. It means everything to us. I think everyone's been in a kind of party spirit from the minute they probably woke up in Liverpool today. It was important then we stuck to our task and we had to get over the line and we had to do our job. Obviously

after the initial wobble we recovered really well and it ended up being a really good afternoon. Then the party could begin, the people in Anfield, the people outside Anfield, they've made it a special day for all of us and it will be one that we remember for years and years to come. Everyone said coming here today, clearly, if the job was to be done, it would be different this time. You experienced last time, what was it like out there at the full-time whistle? Yeah, unbelievable. We always want to be in front of our fans there, you know,

the heart and soul of the club. And obviously the last time we were devastated not to do it in front of them, but we tried to make it as if they were with us by lifting a trophy in the cup and things like that. And we made it as special as we could at a very strange time. But, you know, I think for the lads that have already won it, that was the driving force for the next few years. And it took us a little longer than we probably wanted to but that's been what's driving us forward to experience it in front of fans, to give a generation that hasn't seen us lift the trophy that experience and I'm sure there was a lot of tears and happiness in the stadium today and rightly so for all them and I'm

sure it will be the same when we do lift the trophy against Palace. Now obviously the players have got the job done but talk to me a little bit about your manager and the way in which he's come into this fine football club and within a season he's won the Premier League. Yeah he's done unbelievable, him and his staff, his backroom staff work so hard and you know obviously the manager gets all the credit and rightly so he should but his assistants and his coaches and everyone behind him, they work so hard to make sure that we are best prepared possible going into every single

game and I think he's been unbelievable since he came in and he's a winner and he made that very clear on day one and we all got on board with that very easily and then it was just about getting in a rhythm and we've managed that and then it was just about getting over the line and thankfully we've done that and we're delighted for him, we're delighted for all of ourselves and we're delighted for everyone connected to the club. And without giving away too many trade secrets, how do the celebrations go on from here? What's planned? It's the biggest secret.

I've not got a clue, I've not been in the changing room yet and on the schedule we're in tomorrow but that will be definitely cancelled. You're not in tomorrow. As the schedule stands we are but that will be getting cancelled that's for sure. So obviously we'll have days off and we have to celebrate it because you have to do these things right and it's not often. You win trophies and like you say out of 20 teams only one can win it and we know how hard it is to win it.

So you have to celebrate it properly and we will definitely do that. Andy Robertson with Gary Flint off inside the tunnel at Anfield and Nigel I mean if we talk future then because you were asking Josh about this and actually Andy Robertson say some nice quotes there not about you know short-term tomorrow morning sore heads no one's in the office we'll give them a couple of days but in terms of looking at the summer because Arnestot has talked about it wanting to be a big summer. They're looking to bring some people in. ESAC is one of those names that's been banded around. Kerkes from Bournemouth

as well, the left back. What do you think, if anything, they need and how do they not disrupt what is already going so well? Well, they've already got a fantastic foundation. You know, every team that's been successful and dominate for periods of time, there's the element of foundation. When I say foundation, I'm looking at Alisson, the goalkeeper, you're looking at Van Dijk signing, that's a big factor to it. And then obviously Mo Salah signing, Alexis McAllister has become part of that now. There's quite a few. I think definitely there is a need for a striker. I can't see Darwin Nunes really still staying at Liverpool. They need a real prolific goal scorer to take the burden off Mo Salah.

Obviously Trent Alexander-Arnold is going to go, but I think Connor Bradley is more than capable and good enough. I'm a big fan of that young man. I think he's got a very bright future. They've been linked with Kirkes as well at Bournemouth and I can see that coming in as well to help them. So I think there's definitely going to have to be a refresh. But one important factor for me, I feel that when I look at when they were in

the race for the treble, they did start to flatline in their creativity in the attacking third and being clinical. So I feel for me the most important player would be a very clinical striker and I think Isak ticks all the boxes and I know that's hard for Luke to swallow because his eyes nearly popped out. Good luck with that. Good luck with that. Yeah, I know. That's all I can say. I mean, I don't think they've got the money to sign him and I don't think Newcastle are going to sell him, but that isn't going to stop it. I'm sure Liverpool

would love Alexander Isak. I'm sure most top clubs in Europe would love Alexander Isak, but unless you've got about £150 million to spend this summer, I don't even think you'll get Newcastle to have a conversation. He's got three years left on his contract. Newcastle don't want to sell. They're in no pressure to sell. You might say the player might start agitating to leave. He might do. He might do. That is the unforeseen. But I think if Newcastle get Champions League, he gets a new contract. I don't see him going this summer, but I think it is going to be a story that runs and runs and runs. Just a quick one, Nigel, before we move on, Tottenham making eight changes for the 5-1 defeat.

Actually, in our WhatsApp group, you were predicting six or seven, so it's just straight clear of that. But they're on course for their worst league campaign since the 1970s. Of course, though, with that, you know, in the back of their mind, or very much in the front of their minds, the Europa League semi-final coming up this week. Amy, for that first trophy since 2008 is Bode Glimt on Thursday, but this performance is just not good enough in any aspect, surely. The performance isn't good enough. The mental side of it for the players going into such a big game for the entire season, two legs against Bode Glimt to try and get to European final. That's going to be interesting. So I don't think you want to lose in that manner. Even though yes, it's Liverpool, no one really had Tottenham or gave

them a chance to win. You make eight changes, but then it's just not great for the mental side of it. The psychological aspect of the game, it's going to be hard. And now Anshposta Kogluz has probably dug himself an even deeper hole. How are you going to get these players up for such a big game? And I would warn Tottenham right now to underestimate Boulder Glimt will be a huge mistake. They have been one of the fantastic teams in this Europa League. So I've been covering it from over here. They are sensational football inside, whether it's on their artificial pitch at

home or on grass away, they're going to cause Tottenham some serious problems. So it's not great. It isn't great. And it's just been an awful season and it just makes it hard. Because I do like Antepas to Koglu. But when you look at the record and the numbers don't lie, it's going to be so hard to justify how I could still see him at Tottenham next year. All right. Well, that's coming up on Thursday, Europa League semifinals,

Champions League action as well with Arsenal on Tuesday. But a halftime teaser for you now on the football daily while we take a quick break. So, Arna Slaught is the fifth manager to win the Premier League in his first season, can you name the other four? Answers coming in a moment. It's the scandal that rocked rugby union to its core. The so-called bloodgate scandal. Tom Williams now receiving attention. It seems so clear that this wasn't real blood. It's out and out cheating. This is a story of lies and deception, conspiracies and cover-ups.

There was terror that it could tear the house down. Courtroom drama and secret deals. So obviously a lie. And a human cost that changed lives and careers forever. Dee Richards is found guilty and banned for three years. I'm Ross Kemp and this is Sports Strangers Crimes Bloodgate. Listen on BBC Sounds. Welcome to the Inside Track with me, Rick Edwards.

This is the podcast that takes you inside Formula One and Red Bull Racing like never before. And I'm Matt Magendian. Thanks to my exclusive access, I'll be getting up close and personal One and Red Bull Racing like never before. And I'm Matt Magindy and thanks to my exclusive access I'll be getting up close and personal with the Red Bull Racing team this season. This week we're focusing on that five second penalty for Max Verstappen. I don't see any world in which you could say that, oh no, that was fine. And we're getting very excited about a sit down interview with the big dog team principal Christian Horner. Experience Formula One like never before by tuning into the Inside Track wherever you get your podcasts.

Welcome back to the Football Daily. Before the break, I asked you about Arnie Slott, the fifth manager to win the Premier League in his first season. Can you name the other four? Nigel Riococca and Luke Edwards with us. Have we got any guesses, fellas? I've got Mourinho. Jose Mourinho. Yeah, correct. We've not, look at that, we've got Angelotti. Correct. Yes, correct. Hitting some Italians. We can just go through Chelsea managers now because they can just sack my manager and then win the league the next season. They only last a year anyway so yeah. So you got three, you got Marino Ancelotti, Conte, we've got one more. I can give you a season. Go on then. Yeah 13-14. I was a young man then. Me too, younger than you.

Right, Manuel Pellegrini. Oh Pellegrini. early 13, 14, there we go. But Arne Slot, the first ever Dutch manager to win a top flight league title in England. So we are going to talk FA Cup now because Crystal Palace are going to face off with Manchester City in the FA Cup final on Saturday the 17th of May. So Palace into the final for a third time, never won it in their history. They beat Aston Villa 3-0 on Saturday afternoon. and never lost their head, because after the missed penalty and then the two or three situations where we were a little bit lucky, we had Dean Henderson, who was a big save, and then we always stayed calm, sticked to the plan and waited for our situation and then decided again.

You look so calm. We've had Crystal Palace fans who are in tears. They're so excited about an FA Cup final. How do you manage to keep all of this so calm in your mind? First of all I feel exhausted now, all the tension, also the pressure you know drops down and but it's just a semi-final and it's the players that are celebrating and it's one more step but it's not the last step. So I couldn't see a trophy in the dressing room so it was an important step but it was not the last. So we have one more step to go and now it's for us to be best prepared in three weeks and I'm pretty sure

both teams will go to win the FA Cup and we are one of them so that's really, so that makes me proud. So that was Oliver Glasner with Rob Nothman asking the questions and Luke, I mean I just thought blistering Palace yesterday, look stunning and but it was a full 11 performance wasn't it, from back to front, just all working, all clicking. Yeah they were sensational and if they hadn't had such a bad start to the season, who who knows where they've ended up in the league because they're being one of the one of the better sides Over the second half of the season glass has done a great job But as you say real team performance the big players turned up, but it you know the fans turned up as well I think that's the I've read a lot of stuff about the atmosphere inside Wembley and how Villa fans were

were very quiet compared to palace and As an old romantic that I am Nigel I you know I hope I hope Crystal Palace win the final because they've not won a major trophy before it's everything you want from the FA Cup they came close against Manchester United when I really was a very young young person in the early 90s but But yeah, no, so I, yeah, it's really, really great. And you could see how much it meant to Crystal Palace supporters.

There's that great clip on social media of the fan with a broken arm smacking his head because he couldn't clap after Sara scored his second goal. And it just meant so much to them. And we've seen it with Newcastle this season in the Carabao Cup, just be a great story. You know, it instantaneously would turn this into the most successful Crystal Palace season in living memory if they could win the FA Cup and they've got a chance because Man City were good. I'm sure we'll talk about Man City in a bit. They were good against

Nottingham Forest but there are still some vulnerabilities there and the way Crystal Palace have done a job on Aston Villa, Nigel will be devastated about that, his former club, the way they've done a job on Aston Villa, they've got a real chance in the final as well. On that Nigel, every year, of course these quotes coming in before we found out that it was Manchester City that they'll be facing, this is a quote from him, 100% we are confident we have showed performances like this all the time, we're not worried or fearful of facing anyone and that's the key here is yeah if they play like that absolutely I wouldn't fear but it's the inconsistency that we have seen through the season if you look at their Premier League at the moment run a four without win Luke's already

referenced the start of the season but then within those you get those sort of five nil drubbings against City conceding five against Newcastle as well. So which palace do we see turn up? Well, Katie, this is what we say. It's the magic of the cup. You know, I think the Friday footballs close short. How long does that take? Oh, I love it. I think it's fantastic. I mean, when you look at the semifinals before, I said on record that any of these teams can win it.

There is not one overwhelming favourite. And then even leading into this game, common sense, the football aspect would have said that Aston Villa are the favorites just because of the strength of debt from the quality that they have. But it's the beauty of football names on papers don't win football matches and Crystal Palace absolutely turned up and it's great that you read that quote by as a because I did say that he's one of the players that's going to have to have a big game for Crystal Palace to win. And he did. He did that. He turned up. I would not rule them out. And I'm with Luke. I would love it for Crystal Palace to win the FA Cup.

I think it's fantastic about the club, the community. I grew up five minutes from Sellers Park. I made my professional debut in Sellers Park. So I know about the club and the fans and it will just be great for football. I think it's been one of those FA Cups where I'll probably say this is one of the best FA Cup runs and teams and what we've seen in a long time that should bring the more love out of Luke the romantic. There's something you agree on.

There's something we agree on. I'm big hearted, that's all I can say. I'm as romantic, I like the plot lines. I still love the FA Cup And Crystal Palace winning it would be just the perfect finale Well exactly and this season does feel like Nigel these storylines have been thrown up that it has just added that sprinkling of stardust across the top that maybe it's felt like has been missing a little bit for for some sides But if we talk about your former Cy Villa, were you disappointed in? for some size, but if we talk about your former side Villa, were you disappointed in what you saw from them? And I think I wanted to talk about obviously Olly Watkins and the

interesting quotes we've had over the couple of weeks haven't we where he said he was fuming that he didn't get the start in the Champions League, then he comes in this obviously Rashford injured out of the squad entirely not quite sure if his season is done or not, but they didn't show up in the way Palace did and I was chatting to a couple of Villa fans a couple of days before and they were literally saying to me I think we're going to win the FA Cup maybe getting ahead of themselves because of the momentum that they show but is it the season catching up with them? I wouldn't say it's the season catching up with them I just felt that it was a very disappointing

performance by them you know I don't think they turned up. Crystal Palace seemed like they just, and I hate this cliche, they wanted it more, but they did and they were the better side. I think they dominated the midfield as well, which was one of the big pluses for Crystal Palace. And again, when you look at the Olly Watkins situation, he's been the main man for Aston Villa for so long. And then obviously this whole Marcus Rashford situation

has come into it. Unai Emery seems to be favouring Marcus Rashford more so. So now for me I think the biggest thing that we will never really know is how Unai Emery's management skills are with these players. I think it's healthy for a club like Aston Villa to have competition for places and obviously Oli Watkins has been the main man for so long. And I love the fact that he is angry and he is fuming because that's what you want from your players. You don't want to sit on the bench. You want to be competitive. But now maybe the dynamic has been upset a bit by Unai Emery and how he's handled that whole situation, whether it's publicly or privately, I think that he probably could have been done better in a better way to keep it a healthy competitive way now.

What should he have done differently then? I think that he probably should have got ahead of it a bit more in the press when speaking to someone like Luke to say, you know, we're a big club. Evil journalists again. Yeah, just asking questions. Big hearted though, yeah. Big hearted evil journalists. Yeah, let's work that one out. But I think it should have been the fact of coming out publicly to say, look, Olly Watkins is still in the plans for the club, he is our main striker, but I'm rotating, or just get ahead of it in a way to make it seem that it's healthy competition.

And probably maybe rotating it, because I was surprised as well that Olly Watkins didn't get more of a start in the Champions League games. But again, these are the decisions that he's made as a manager and he has to deal with this now. It's a really interesting thing, isn't it? Because Emre's been lauded. It's a week ago that Aston Villa beat Newcastle and everything seemed to be hunky dory in the world.

You know, Emre was being labeled a genius. Watkins was excellent in that game. But I just wonder, they signed Marcus Rashford on loan. He's a loan signing and already the noises have started about is he gonna still be at Villa next season? You don't know what that does, do you, Nigel, to the dynamic of a dressing room? You bring players in on loan, you've got established stars

who've done wonderfully for the football club and then you get the new person comes in, Marcus Rashford, he tracks headlines and one of my friends is a Villa fan and he dubbed them Marcus Rashford FC for a while and wasn't happy about it because everything he read was about Marcus Rashford, Marcus Rashford. Then suddenly we start hearing stories saying well Marcus Rashford isn't definitely going to be at Villa. So what does that do, Nig? Can that upset that delicate eco balance of a dressing room if

that sort of thing happens? Thousand percent. You know it, footballers are human beings as well and there is egos in the dressing room. And I'm not saying Olly Watkins has an ego because I've spoken to Olly Quietfield, a lovely, lovely young man, fantastic career he's had and what he's done for the football club. But I think he'll have a right to feel a type of way. You know, he has been the man at Villa and he has been delivering it. It's not the fact of he's just been the man at Villa and he's the only striker and he hasn't been delivering and doing the goods. I would add to that that Nigel, that he's not the kind of character that is pretty outspoken, is he? He's quite, you know, goes about his way. I remember at Brentford

when he had, he got sort of riled up one game. He's always been so respectful of his former club and came, got riled up, said he heard something behind the goal and really gave them some one game. And it was so shocking. I think this was last season because we'd never really seen that side of him. So if he's speaking up clearly, you know, it really matters to him, doesn't it? It does matter to him. And again, Kate, as a manager, you want that. And this is why I say that Unai Emery is probably going to be the one that has to deal with this and take this on on his shoulders,

because I think that he should have handled it better in the sense of whether it's privately or publicly again, not letting the stories continue to gain momentum in the press side of things. Like Luke said, it's become a ball about Marcus Rashford. And then now you look at good opportunity for Aston Villa could have had to get into an FA Cup final to win something this season to show continuous progression under Unai Emery. And now they've let that one slip and they're still in a tough race to try and finish in that top five for Champions League football next year. So it's a really difficult situation he finds himself in now. It'd be really interesting to see how they respond in the running now because you know,

if they miss out on Champions League football as well as losing an FA Cup semi-final as well as going close in the Champions League's knocking out PSG, it suddenly becomes a nearly season. So Crystal Palace into the final, they were brilliant. A bit of food for thought as well as going close in the Champions League to knocking out PSG, it suddenly becomes a nearly season. So Crystal Palace into the final, they were brilliant. A bit of food for thought as well, I was thinking for Thomas Tuke or the England boss, because he was watching on and you have brilliant performances. Henderson, Eze, Adam Wharton we've not even mentioned, but he was fantastic. Gehi as well. They are going to take on Manchester City in May, Nigel, who beat Nottingham Forest on Sunday afternoon 2-0.

Was this a case of just not Forest Day? Because I can't quite decide on this. So they hit the woodwork three times in the second half, but the first half they were so tame, they just didn't really show up. It took them 45 minutes to warm up. That's the sad, disappointing thing. I think they used the first half as still as a warm up, not in Forest. But it's one of those matches you will look back and you'd say it's just not their day. You know, when you look at the opportunities and chances that they had, that game I felt personally should have been 2-2 and gone into extra time and then let's just see how it plays out then. Any other day, those chances that Forest had, we'll see them end in the back of the net, momentum will grow and then they'll continue to get better. But again, there's lots of vulnerability still in Manchester City. I don't see this invincible Manchester City that we have seen previously under Pep Guardiola. And for Nottingham

Forest, again, they'll be very disappointed. You know, again, it was for them as well, the amazing season that they've had so far. This could have been another cherry on top for an FA Cup final and real season for most of these players to remember for the rest of their life of what they've achieved under Nuno. But it just wasn't their day today, you know, hitting the post twice. And I think the biggest moment for me, Katie, was the miss by, I think it's Ilanga. But do you not think it's so strange to both of you, this question, that it was only brought on at half time? Why are you not starting Elanger in this game?

It was a strange tactics. I think, yeah, there was that. And Nigel was right, they just didn't get going. I mean, I thought City were very good for 50 minutes or so, not their best, but very good, controlled the game. But Forest just didn't seem very Nottingham Forest, if that makes sense. They didn't do the things that they've done all season that has given them such a remarkable campaign. And look, that can happen when you haven't played in a cut semifinal for a long time.

The occasion can get to you for players, supporters. It becomes a day out and just getting to the semifinal feels like the achievement. And they eventually sort of snapped out of that, but only when they were really forced to have a go at two-nil down and look, as vulnerable as Manchester City are, you can't give them a two-goal head start. And I agree with Nigel, it just wasn't their day.

If one of Morgan Gibbs White's chances goes in, I think it's a very different last half an hour, but they didn't and Man City were worthy winners in the end. And just to talk about Manchester City, they've been in every single FA Cup semifinal since 2019. They've missed one since 2017. And I know Nigel, you were a bit shocked about the number of empty seats, weren't you, in the city end?

I mean, it wasn't great viewing, I think. And again, it goes to the argument of a lot of people saying that the FA Cup semi-finals should be moved back to a neutral stadium and the final should only be hosting, be only hosted at Wembley. Wembley should go for the final. The cost is huge. Yeah, if you live in Manchester and you've got to get the tickets to go down, then you've got the travel.

And they've been in so many semi-finals, FA Cup Cup semifinals, it's not even an event for them. And I know that sounds incredibly arrogant and conceited, but for Manchester City fans, it isn't an event. They expect to have to be going down there again for the final, and I'm afraid football has a problem because people are struggling to pay for match tickets to go to every game. It's a huge, huge cost to travel down to London to go to Wembley.

Family of four. You're looking at hundreds and hundreds of pounds. And City fans, rightly or wrongly, have just gone, well, I'm not that bothered about the semi-final. I'll try and get a ticket for the final. Yeah, but Luke, let's just say this. I love football, but let's not forget people are struggling for day-to-day life. Just the cost of living.

So I think we need to get a bit of common sense when it comes to everything that's going on right now. That being said, you know, you look at the Forest perspective and it's a huge day out. You want to go to Wembley, you want to soak up that atmosphere, you want to be at the National Stadium. Yeah, and it's not going to change because the FA need to pay, you know, the FA want the semi-finals there. We've been talking about it for a decade now about moving the FA Cup semi-finals. It's not going to happen, but I just think for Manchester City support it, it's a game too far. As Nigel said. Life is expensive at the minute, people are struggling

and football is becoming more and more costly for you to go and support your team as a match-going fan. Let's have a look at the race for Europe for next season then. So we had wins for Newcastle, Chelsea, Brighton and Fulham across the weekend. So the battle for Champions League football, remember top five places. There's five points spread out from third to seventh. So if I just take you through the table, third at the moment Newcastle on 62, Manchester City behind them in fourth on 61. A point back, Chelsea in fifth, so that final Champions League spot on 60 points. Then in sixth, Forest also on 60, of course with that game in hand because they were playing in the cup this weekend. And then Villa three points back, seventh on 57 points. I mean, if we're a bit bored of the relegation, so-called relegation battle,

Luke and Liverpool being crown champions today, this actually has become pretty good viewing. Well, thank goodness, Katie, because the title was wrapped up before the start of May, the relegation was wrapped up about a month ago when we knew which three teams are going down. So thank goodness, as in the media, I've got the race for Champions League football. I mean, you can call it an artificial trophy if you like, but I mean, the money on offer

for all those clubs is remarkable. They all want to be in the Champions League. They all want the prestige. They all want the finances to come with it. You look at Newcastle, best seasoning, live in memory, they won the first trophy in 70 years. They get Champions League football second time in three years. It sort of confirms their place among the elite.

You got Nottingham Forest. Nobody expected them to be there. What a wonderful story that would be. Then you've got the likes of Manchester City and Chelsea who are a sphincter. They belong in the Champions League, certainly Manchester City, but Chelsea, you know, think they're a club that think they belong

in that tier of football. It'd be a huge disappointment, a huge failure if one of those two doesn't do it. So there's all these different plot lines and then Aston Villa, of course, want to get back in there as well. So there's a lot of drama and there's a lot of tension and it's gonna make the last month of the season.

It's gonna be something quite exciting. Well, and I actually think as well, we've sort of talked about this already, Nigel, but the fragility of what one bad result seems to be able to do when a team is in a so-called period of momentum. And I think throwing in the Cup semifinals this weekend actually has broadened it all out, because you look at Villa, I think it's a perfect example

of the back of the Newcastle win, and then they've had a couple of losses, and now it sort of looks like a bit of a stretch there is distance. You look at Forrest, maybe one bad result coming up midweek, is it Brentford? I think they have. Yeah, Brentford on Thursday. Brentford still a couple of points there and then it looks completely different. Yeah, it does. I mean, the fixtures coming ahead is just going to be absolutely crazy. I think for me, I would say that Chelsea probably have the toughest fixtures in the remaining of the season for whether they can keep that momentum going. With Villa now, it's very simple. It's tunnel vision for them. They know what they have to do. I would say Villa probably have favourable fixtures

alongside Nottingham Forest. It's going to be interesting and it's going to be a great ride to watch to see how this plays out and Some clubs like you said now look at forest and Villa I'll put in that category of just complete tunnel vision Chelsea still have European competition Manchester City Pep Guardiola has made it very clear. Obviously, it's trying to get a Champions League place Newcastle another club So I think it just makes it a real great race to keep an eye on. And there's so many different subplots stories that can go along the way as well. Well, and actually Marcus Silver, boss at Fulham, they had a win this weekend, talking about it now being nice final after final after final.

Is that the way you feel as a player now you actually do have to approach it? And can you get yourself up continuously? I definitely would. I mean, I'm not a manager yet, but if I do get an opportunity to be a manager, I think that's the right mindset that you have to have. I didn't mean to laugh there Nigel, sorry. So I didn't mean to laugh when you said I'm not a manager yet. That was very rude of me. Sorry. I'm, let me just... No, I knew you meant to laugh. It's fine. It's alright.

Retracting that from the evil journalist. See the headline tomorrow. You and your poisonous pen. It's okay Luke. We know you very well. I'll beat your first press conference, don't worry. Right in the back, yeah. I do feel, Katie, that that is the right mindset to have. I think you have to let the players know the reality of the situation. You don't want to waste such a fantastic season

that you've had up to this point, but this is it. This is what you dream about being a football player. This is the moments you want. You want that pressure. You've got to embrace that pressure, and this is it. Every game is a cup final for all these teams now to the end of the season. If we look a little bit further down the table as well, Bournemouth drawing 1-1 with Manchester

United. So Fulham a bright move above Bournemouth into eighth and ninth. They are both six points behind Villa. Bournemouth a point back in tenth. Brentford not not out of it in 11th they've got a game in hand. Highs and lows of football then Liverpool sealing the title meanwhile for Ipswich Town we sort of knew it was happening already but had their relegation confirmed this weekend after losing 3-0 at Newcastle. Also once again going down to 10 another red card this their fifth of the season put some joint top in terms of red cards with with Arsenal This is Ben Johnson for a second bookable offense in the in the first half But you know as ever changes the game doesn't it it does my cards on the table

I have a soft spot for it switch because I lived there for three years And they've had a good go at it, but you know they've probably been the best performing of the newly promoted teams But again a bit of naivety there on the style of football they wanted to play. All right, Nigel, I'm big hearted Luke. Okay. I'm big softy Luke. I'm being nice about people today. And yeah, they came up short, but what I will say, listening to McKenna talk after the game, because I was at St. James' Park. I liked the way he talked. I liked the way, I think of all the clubs that came up, they were probably the ones who were almost willing to accept relegation.

They were in league one, two years ago. It's been a remarkable journey. A ride that's almost too quick, really, for a club like Ipswich, but- They almost overachieved a little bit. Oh, massively overachieved. It's been a magic carpet ride and you know unfortunately the carpets lost its ability to fly and they've come crashing back down to earth but I think the club will be in a better position for the finances that

it brings. I think there's some stability there, I think they've got good building blocks to go back into the championship and have a real good stab at coming back up again. As we've seen Burnley do this season of the three teams going down, I would put Ipswich as the one that I would say best equipped to come back up. And I think if you asked every Ipswich supporter five years ago, you know, when they were in league one, floundering in league one and couldn't get out of it,

you know, they'd be in the Premier League, but you'd be relegated after one year a season. Of course they'd have all taken that. And seeing the backing of the supporters at some of the other parties yesterday, they're be in the Premier League, but you'd be relegated after one year a season. Of course they'd have all taken that and seeing the backing of the supporters at St. Piers' Park yesterday, they're very, very grateful for everything that their football team has given them over the last two years. Wolves absolutely flying still, sixth Premier League wins in a row now for them, the first time they've won six top flight games in a row since 1970.

Jamie Vardy having a penalty saved as well, So he stays on 198 Leicester goals. He's leaving at the end of the season. We found that out this week after defeat to Fulham Southampton State level with that 07 08 Derby Premier League record low of 11 points and Arsenal threw to their first Women's Champions League final in 18 years. They were 4-1 winners in Lyon so overturned a first leg deficit to win 5-3 on aggregate It was a stunning performance loop wasn't it just very quick word on that. Yeah, brilliant. Yeah, I mean if If you were thinking of which of the two English teams had a good chance of getting to the final with the second legs It was Chelsea because they were at home to Barcelona. They ended up getting absolutely pumped by Barcelona

Arsenal superb great result probably one of their best results, and I was saying their European history, certainly recent years. They're going up against a formidable Barcelona side in the final, but the way Arsenal have been in Europe this season, just maybe. Who knows, just maybe. And I don't think we'd have been saying that back in September.

What a season for René Slager's taking over in October, and now they are in a Champions League final. Right, guys, thanks. It's been a delight. I thought you were very well behaved this evening. We only had a few little moments, but you know, we got through it. Yeah, we love each other really. Yeah, we're both going to be in detention again, so we probably won't be back together for another six months. I'll see you in October.

Yeah, nothing to do with me. I'll see you then. Thanks to Nigel Riuacoco and Luke Edwards. That is it for this episode of the Football Daily. The next one will be the Monday Night Club with Mark Chapman, Chris Sutton, Rory Smith and Steph Alton. This is the football story of the century. It's pandemonium. It's ecstasy. It's an authoritarian regime. For the past 15 years, English football has been dominated by Manchester City.

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