Football Daily - Monday Night Club: Mateta’s move off, City’s slump and Liverpool’s new star man

Episode Date: February 2, 2026

Mark Chapman, Steph Houghton, Chris Sutton and Rory Smith react to an underwhelming Transfer Deadline Day and the big talking points from the weekend’s action in the Premier League. They discuss; whether Tottenham’s second half comeback to draw with Manchester City can be a turning point, what’s causing City’s slump in form, Arsenal’s six-point lead at the top of the table, and Hugo Ekitike stepping up as Liverpool’s new star man. 01:17 – Transfer Deadline Day with Sami Mokbel 13:06 – Manchester City fan Rachel Herdson on their poor form 31:30 – Tottenham’s turning point? 36:10 – Too much focus on nervousness around Arsenal? 48:32 – Hugo Ekitike: Liverpool’s new star man

This is the Monday Nightclub with Mark Chapman. On the Football Daily podcast. Welcome to the Monday Night Club. Chris Sutton, Rory Smith and Steph Horton are with us. You can watch on the eye player. You can stream on the BBC Sport YouTube channel. If you do that, you will notice that Chris has got a new angle for his... You've had the same angle for the last five years, something like that.

that and now we're looking to we're looking into a different part of the is that what is that the Sutton drawing room what is it I don't call it a drawing room it's just one of the many loungers which which which which we have no I've had this camera for about five years I just not been able to work it and then I got talked through it today by grace who we both know very well which and she was laughing at me a lot so I had to get my son to help me set it up. But yeah, North Norfolk is moving on for the older generation and technology.

Right. So that's good. Okay. You and Alan Partridge both leading the way. Are you in North Norfolk? Yes. Here we are. Okay.

I know what you're thinking. Come on. It's transfer deadline night. The window shut at 7 o'clock. Surely there are more exciting things to talk about than the angle of Chris's camera in one of his many loungers. And Sammy Mockbala, I'm not sure there were, up until about two minutes to seven,

I'm not sure there were many more interested things, were there? I know, it's been, um, it's not been slow because my phone's still been going off, but we've not had any confirmation of any deals until 7 o'clock when we know now that Jorgon, Strahan Larson has signed for Crystal Palace. But yeah, there'll be, all the deal sheets will be, and you're not going to ask me to explain what a deal sheet is like. No, I think, I think most, most people know that. Or don't care what the, or don't really.

really care. Everybody knows that the window shut and then for approximately a day and a half afterwards. You could still do deals. You can still do deals. So, you know, the whole thing's just completely and utterly manufactured. Are you surprised, Steph, that the only major Premier League deal, I think Spurs and Arsenal have snapped up sort of younger players that they will start in their under 21s. Are you surprised that for all the talk and all the hollabaloo, that the only major deal at the moment is Strand Larsen. Yeah, I think for me, probably the club that I thought that would probably go into the market is Liverpool just because of the injuries that they've got in the defensive unit.

I think that's been sporting about since even the beginning of the season. If there was anything to happen to Van Dyke and Canarta, do they have cover for them too? And obviously now Frimpong and Bradley are out in terms on that right-hand side. So Sobislai is playing at that right-back role. I think that's probably a big surprise for me in terms of where Liverpool have been in terms of the inconsistency but also in the Champions League trying to get back up to the

in the Premier League and yeah I think for me I think they should have maybe done something in this window. Because what they have done in this window is leave it until the summer. Yeah so they're signing Jeremy Jacquet from Rent for 60 million pounds but it sent a back who's 20 years old. Loads of potential

but he's not signing until the summer and it's kind of like well you kind of need these plays in the door now they've still got a lot to play for champions league top four so for them not to try and push that deal forward to now

I don't understand the reasons why I think I know the reasons why but I think Chelsea were very close to signing him I think they just wanted to nip in front of them and get the deal done now but that still doesn't explain why they can't bring him into the squad now presumably Rory's got nothing to do with

accounting and what goes in what year and budgets and stuff, has it? No, Ren wanted to keep him until the summer. Right. He's got a World Cup to think about. And Ren were very clear, I think, to, I think Chelsea, Samuel know more than me, but Chelsea, I think we're trying to get it done for this month, but I think Ren's view to Liverpool was, well, look, we wanted to stay here until the summer,

and I wouldn't be shocked if what got Liverpool over the line rather than Chelsea was Liverpool going, okay. I think there are, I mean, I agree with everything Steph says, and I think the strange thing to me about Liverpool today is that they seem to be done for Luxeel Gertrida yesterday. That got complicated and they said someone at some point said no and they haven't thought, right, we can't get him, let's go and get someone else who can play right back and centreback, because they need cover. And whether, you know, we might talk about it a bit later, whether you can fairly judge,

whether you can lay all the blame for whatever happens in the rest of Liverpool season on Arna Slot, when they haven't given him that cover, I don't know. But I think for Jacques, it's very much, well, he, He's the among the brightest central defensive prospects in the world. They want to sign him and the condition of getting the deal done was you wait until next season. And I think Liverpool thought that the long-term gain was maybe worth the short-term pain on that one. Talk us through then. Let's go back to Palace.

Talk us through Strand Larson and it seems Mattetta staying. And a late move for Dwight McNeil, which might be one of those deal sheets. Should we deal with the Matetta thing first then? So obviously we were together yesterday. And we were starting, so to start from the, completely from the start, Crystal Palace have agreed a deal,

had agreed a deal with ASEMilan of around 30 million pounds to sell Jean-Filiq Matetta. We were starting to, I was starting to hear whispers last night about potential problems with the medical. I've not seen the paperwork of the medical obviously but my understanding was and that Oliver Glastner has been on record saying that at the moment John Philippe Matetta is playing with a knee problem so if you connect the dots

you could probably ascertain that I guess that the issue with the medical with the knee so the results from yesterday were so compelling that A.C. Milan decided to do another round of tests today, which obviously flagged the same problems, and they decided to pull out of the deal, which leaves Jean-Foliet Matetta in a tough bind, obviously, but also Crystal Palace to an extent financially. I think they were banking on that money now. I think that's why they've done the York and Strand-Larsen deal. Obviously, they've done the Strand-Larsen deal now. That's been confirmed the first deal that's been confirmed today, but Matetta still at the club.

You would have thought now then, Chris, wouldn't you? That Stran Larsson goes ahead of Mateta in the Crystal Palace pecking order, because they've signed him and he wants to be there? Yes. It's actually, because I actually think you may disagree that Palace with all what's gone on at the club selling

Mark Gehie, Oliver Glastner making it clear he's not going to be there. at the end of the season, I thought they could have got sucked into a relegation battle. So actually having the two of them isn't actually a bad thing, I think. But you're right. I mean, you know, I just wondered how the palace fans are going to take or whether they're going to take to Metetta coming back. They know he wanted away and Strand Larson. The one thing about Strand Larson, let's get it right.

He had a good season last season. He scored plenty of goals for Wolves. It's a struggling Wolves team this season, but he hasn't really torn up any trees. He scored one goal, this is. Yeah, I mean, that's, you know, that's not great. But, yeah, I mean, it's a bit of a mess at Palace at this moment in time. But I think, you know, watching them yesterday against Nottingham Forest when they had the numerical advantage in the second half, you know, it was sort of crying out for a Mateta type. You know, he may have been the difference, as he has been so many times under Oliver Glasner.

So I think this season, it's not a bad thing. If both stay, of course, it just depends on whether Mateta, you know, if he comes back into the fold, whether, you know, his attitude is on point, you know, and he doesn't chuck his toys out of the pram. But, yeah, I don't think it's a bad thing. Financially, of course, you know, it may not work for them, but I think they'll stand a better chance of staying in the Premier League with the two of them. I wouldn't be shocked if John Philippe Mateta uses this opportunity now to sort his knee out. and that dilemma might be taken out of the manager's hands and he might just use it to maybe rest his knee except the problem for him is that

it's a World Cup year Rory and this was one of the Champions League football or wanted to go to a club that could offer Champions League football at some point and then be in the France World Cup squad that we are told has been his aim all along Yeah, and there's, you know, there's obviously, he's been on the fringes of the French squad, but there's plenty of competition.

There's no shortage of footballers in France. So if he, if he, Sammy's right, I suppose logically it would be, Palace have kind of got his replacement in early. You could then take whatever time you require to kind of manage the knee injury if something kind of more severe is required. But it probably comes at the cost of a World Cup. But then given all the issues around Palace, I suspect that will be, you know, that won't be playing in Metetta's favour.

either. There's a sadness around Palace, everything that's happened basically since they won the FA Cup. It's a really kind of, yeah, regretful story that this team that kind of was such a fairy tale that was such a fielded story last season. And at every step of the way since that Cup final, it just seems to have, it's almost like they've taken the wrong path on every single moment. So now their captain was sold, but for 15, 20 million twid less than they might have got him. for him in the summer, they're going to lose Matetta on a free rather than get 30 million now, Sammy,

and then presumably if they'd said... He's got 18 months left? Matta? Yeah, he's got 18 months left, yeah. But you then have Matetta, there will still be some resale value for him then in the summer, which is a bonus. But, you know, and you're losing Glasnett,

it feels as though the energy and the momentum that Palace built up last season has dissipated in about six months, and that is quite... That's fundamentally just quite sad. I think in terms of Mattetta, you will have to try and play. I think in terms of maybe sorting his knee out,

maybe for that potential move in the summer. But I think with that competition in the French World Cup squad, I think he has to be seen to be playing and to getting back to the form he was of last season because he probably hasn't hit the heights of what we expected this season because Crystal Palace have had a lot more games. You can see that that's kind of took its toll on how they've performed the form that they've been in.

but it's going to be so interesting, obviously, with Larson now in terms of who starts, and as a play, you want to be selfish, but ultimately the bigger picture is to try and aim to get to a World Cup, and that's the dilemma he has now. Moving away from Palace, wool seems to have been fairly active today, but is this partly preparing for next season?

Yeah, they're trying to get this deal over the line for Alan Armstrong, who is, in my mind, a championship player. It's almost, as you say, they're in preparation for, the inevitable. I'm not sure he's going to prove great shakes in the Premier League. They were looking at Shea Adams. I move for Shea Adams from Torino, but it doesn't look like that that deal is going to materialise.

And Angel Gomez, the England International, who was currently at Marseille, I understand is in the country having a medical, should have been completed, is medical by now, and we'll sign on loan with an option to sign for people. permanently next season, but whether it depends if I don't know, if people remain to see it, of whether

wolves take that up and whether Angel Gomez wants to play in the championship next season. Angel Gomez, credit Bill Edgar in the times for this, because this is the kind of stat we like. Angel Gomez now becomes the fourth player in the Wolf's squad with Gomez as their surname.

And there's only, what? It's important. It's important, Chris. and in history only crew at the only lead club to have started a game in any competition with four players

who shared the same surname and that was in the fourth tier back in 1960 when crew had Keith Jones Dick Jones, David Jones and Marvin Jones in a start 11 against Workington so there you go

Statman Dave wouldn't come up with that would he let's talk Spurs and Manchester City will come on to Spurs shortly, but we'll talk City first of all, who have now won one of their last six in the league. And that's despite I didn't get and Semenio to the squad in this transfer window.

Rachel Hurdson is a Manchester City fan and joins us now. What are they doing at the moment? What are they doing? How long have you got? How long do you want? Yeah, yeah. I mean, you know, up until about half five yesterday,

it was all going pretty well. You know, we look pretty comfortable. And I think that's probably one of the problems that we perhaps look too comfortable. There's maybe a little bit of complacency setting in yesterday. It probably is a mentality issue there. That, you know, at no point did we look like we were going to go on and score more yesterday in the second half.

I think that that urgency and tempo and desire just did not exist. Thomas Frank obviously went in and did something different and PEP didn't respond. And I think that's one of the big problems that we've got at the moment is that it's very difficult to call PEP because he's obviously ultimately one of the best managers of all time. However, he's not above criticism. And I think yesterday sort of typified the fact that we didn't change it. We've had quite poor ring game management this season, which has, not helped our cause. I don't think necessarily,

because of the number of injuries we've had, and I know everyone complains about injuries, but we haven't necessarily had the game changes that we had on the bench previously that will come on and change the game around. So, yeah, there's a lot to one pick, I think, after yesterday. The desire thing and the sort of, I mean, the hinting at complacency thing is,

is slightly unusual, isn't it? because probably at least, I'm doing this off the top of my head here, Rachel, but probably at least half of that team haven't won a title and are fairly new to City. So they haven't really got anything to be complacent about. Not that I'm saying the ones that have won a title would be complacent, but do you know what I mean? Yeah, no, I know exactly what you mean.

But I think is that does that stop with the manager again in that he's complacent? This is what has served us so greatly in terms of our formation and, you know, our possession-based football, which has served us so well, unfortunately, we've come unstuck now. Teams know how to play against us. They put 10 men behind the ball and then break,

and that's how you typically get a result. And the only time that Peps really changed it this season was against Arsenal. In the last 15 minutes, we actually put 10 men behind the ball and let Arsenal come at us, and it was only in the last couple of minutes that we came undone. We did a really great, a great, we were really solid defence. defensively that day, but that's the only time he's changed it.

So I think the complacency is probably more pointed at the manager. The players actually look afraid to try and play in any other way. You know, Turkey was pretty direct yesterday, and it looked like Pep was actually having a bit of a go at him for, you know, for grabbing the game by the Scruff of the net, which was, again, a bit frustrated. It's almost like you're a bit scared to not retain the ball because of the consequences you might get dropped as consequences.

I remember that exact incident because in the match of the devilics, we were sitting there thinking, if you're churkey, you'd go, will you just calm down, mate? I've scored one. I've just scored and the goal is just pulled off. Just back off a bit and let me do my thing, would you? You sometimes wonder, Chris, and I go back to say the game at the turn of the year when they were at home to Chelsea with City,

where Chelsea scored right at the death, the equaliser there. You sometimes wonder with City where, because of the players that they've got, they just think another chance will come along and they'll score it. So if they miss one or two, then, you know, it's a little bit of a smile and a shrug and the next one will come. Do you see that?

Yes, I just, I mean, I had a look at the city team from 23, 24, which won the Premier League. And I think it's a city team now, which, you know, you look at Rodry back then. You know, really feel for him, with the injury that he's had, but he hasn't come back.

He's a different player now, unfortunately. Yeah. The same player. Bernardo Silver and other players, he's been superb for Manchester City, just not quite at the peak of his powers anymore. I think that, you know, you look at the centre half position. I know, Gayhee has come in,

but, you know, to lose Diaz, to lose Gvardio, you know, huge losses. Bones, Backe, there's a whole wealth of them that have caught. And then you think about, like, the right-back, position and Kyle Walker was brilliant for City for years. You know, Mattes Nunes was a midfield player who Peppers, you know, nurtured into playing right back. And, you know, eight, norie, big money spent on him.

He's had injury issues, hasn't kicked the ball. I don't think he covered himself in glory. And you put all these things together. And City is still good. But they, you know, they aren't as good as they once were, where, you know, they were the powerhouse in the Premier League. And they controlled games. You just, you know, watching them this season, they just don't control the games in the same way.

And I think that's the difference. They still have talented players. You know, Harlan, people are sort of writing him off. And, you know, I think that's ridiculous. You know, I know he missed a chance yesterday. But if you have a supply line to him, I think, you know, he'll be fine. Semeno, I think, is a good signing. Gayhe's a good signing.

But it's not quite clicking. It's not quite connecting at the level which city want. and then you look at Arsenal and they're a set piece juggernaut and look like they're going to win the Premier League off the back of, you know, clean sheets and not conceding many goals. And you just sense that's where Arsenal have the edge, but City is still good, just not what they were. We're still in the running, which when you look at the, you know,

our season as a whole, there's really only been a handful of standout performances. The performance level has not been there. And we used to be putting teams to bed pretty, early now. I can't remember the last time we had a really convincing win. But I think it's this, like I say, I don't think we've even had a shot

on target in the second half since the turn of the year in the Premier League, which is a really worrying stat that was pointed out. But again, it just comes back to this whole lack of urgency, almost like, well, we're in,

we don't see that shift from second gear. And I think if there was more tempo, then it would help our, you know, was to execute our game. It just feels like you say that it's not quite working at the minute. So the fact that we're still in the running, and Arsenal's still keep giving us chances. You know, they lost against United,

they slipped up against Forest. We're still in the running because I don't think they'll go the rest of the season, you know, without dropping points. But it's more at this stage for city fans. I think they're more looking behind them than in front of them in terms of, you know, Liverpool, Chelsea, United of all seem to pick up a little bit of form. Now, I know Villa had a slip at the weekend, but, you know, it's more for us about finishing top four.

now than really challenging Arsenal. The worrying thing for me is that when Arsenal have slipped, I use that term, loosely. I think these last six games has been an opportunity where there has been games where that gap could have been close and I think

in terms of performances, I agree in the sense of them first half performances have been really, really good and we've been able to score, we've been able to create pressure. But yesterday, if you take spurs, for example, they're in a situation where yesterday they probably didn't expect to get anything because it's Manchester City coming to their home ground,

not really great at home. The pressure's on Thomas Frank. With 12-bit players as well, that's it. That's all they had to. Exactly. Van de Van der Ven missing. So he always has a good game against Harlan. So that was a thing where I'm thinking, okay, this could be a good game for Manchester City,

but I feel as though Spurs had nothing to lose in that second half. And instead of sitting behind the ball, they actually gave the game to City until they try to press them. But also, sorry, Steph, just to jump in there, on that second half. Rachel's point about how Guadiola didn't really respond. And then after the game he said, because Thomas Rank went from

a back three to more of a sort of four, four two really, he put an extra body in the middle of midfield. Guadioa after the game said, well the moment they put one more player there and more long balls, they won one or two more second balls, and after that they created the momentum. Well,

in normal circumstances, or you know, in years gone by, he would have reacted, wouldn't he, to what they did? I feel as though, I don't think it was a tactical change that was needed. I think it was personnel. I think you leave him Mamush on until 80th minute to get him on the pitch, whereas we needed legs, we needed energy, we needed someone to try and change it.

Even Riders in midfield, like, you know, when you talk about them second balls, chappers, that he is so good at that. He's able to get back. When the balls travel in the air, travel, get underneath the ball. Rodry will win every single header. And Nico came on as well. They've got height in that midfield. So I feel as though in terms of that second half performance,

I think City do generally drop off and they are so vulnerable on that counterattack when they are getting countered. But also I think at that time, it was more of a personnel change that I think was needed earlier because I think actually even when it was 2-2, I still think that spurs were very vulnerable, but we didn't attack them.

We weren't direct and we haven't played to Harlan strengths, even though he's not in form. I don't feel as though we've played to his strengths for these last couple of months, if I'm being honest. I feel really sorry for Harland. He's getting a lot of stick, and yet he'll walk into any other team in the Premier League. I find it crazy that he's being questioned,

to be perfectly frank, with the service that he's been receiving, has been pretty poor. And in the first half yesterday, I thought he actually dropped back and linked up the play pretty well as well. We just didn't capitalize on that. I know he had that chance that should potentially have scored.

But yeah, it's been, like I say, Mammush, I think. Harland as well has played pretty much every minute of every game because Mamush hasn't been available and I think that's probably another reason why his form hasn't been brilliant but he can't win earlier in the season we were talking about oh there's too much pressure on Harland

he's scoring every week there's no goals coming from elsewhere well guess what when the goals dry up from him then we find ourselves in trouble so maybe not to be too critical of him in the future Rory yeah I think fully if I think City are suffering

the same thing as Liverpool as Spurs at home from a lot of the season and it's the low blocks. Ultimately if teams set up you have, City have been the best of it for 10 years that City wants to have the ball and they want to kill you with a thousand cuts. That's how

City beat you. They will move you around and they will move you around and then will wait for a mistake. And that is easier ultimately when you're facing teams that want to play out from the back that want to kind of build their own patterns of play as they move forward. And half the lead's not doing that anymore. half the lead is getting it, is they're sitting in two blocks of five,

and they are going, as Steph said, they're going direct as fast as they can. And I think that teams that those three are all really good examples, because they look great in Europe. City, me, Delatastray are not a bad team, and City just sort of swatted them aside. And I know there was the disappointing result against Labor Tuesday in November. And Bodo, more recently. And Bodo, but Bodo work. Did you forget them, Rory?

I never forget Bodo, Chris. But Bodo, it was very cold. you're basically going down you're going down the Anthony Gordon it's called in Manchester it's not you're going down the Anthony Gordon it's easier to play in the Champions League

or teams are more opening the Champions League rather than the Premier League It is very hard to take Anthony Gordon seriously because of his haircut but what he said is completely accurate But Rory my point is yesterday when Spurs actually came out and didn't have the low block in that second half

that is a perfect opportunity for City to actually can't capitalise and that's what I think is frustrating from a city's point of view like watching the team and wanting them to do well and trying to close that gap in arsul when the opportunity not even just from an arsul point of view and what they've done it's more like if you focus on yourselves actually that game in that second half was probably perfect for the players that we have and I was thinking back you know when Chris said about the 23 24 team treble winning team we're speaking about Mahmush like in that team you when Harland wasn't playing and we needed a a goal. You're bringing on Alvarez, who scores goals? Like, who is that person now? Because I think everybody thought that Phil Forden would be that person, but he's not consistent enough. He had that great season. But at this moment in time, when the game's not going right from, he's still not able to manufacture something. Is he allowed to be consistent enough? And by that, I mean,

do you sometimes feel that players have a good run at City, like for, say, a couple of months? And then all of a sudden, you barely see them for the next six weeks. They're on the better. There are several players that I think, you sort of think, well, they were playing really well last time I saw them, and now they seem to be on, Rachel's nodding,

and now they seem to be, they just disappear for a little bit. The best example of that is about having a run in the team was Jack Grealish. So he was in and out of the team, and then I think just after the World Cup in Qatar, he came back and he played on that left wing and made the position his own.

And that's the best form Jack Greeish has ever been in. And the fact that he's having to run of continuous run of games, it's just not a coincidence for me. It's got to be much easier to maintain your level of performance when you're playing every week. I do feel, though, Phil Fordens had a lot of opportunities this season. And you went through that little spell where he was scoring and he's assistant. But I think when you're in that moment,

I don't know whether Chris can back us up in terms of when it's not really going well in the sense of goals and assists, I'm hoping you're kind of Chris anyway. but I think you've got... Why don't you ever come to me with a positive? No, I'm saying this is a good thing. I'm hoping that you were this player, Chris, is what I'm trying to say. Yeah, if you weren't scoring or assistant,

I'm thinking you're doing something that is going to help the team in other areas and I feel as though sometimes Phil goes missing. I think if you took Kevin DeBroner, for example, in terms of what he brought from an attack on point of view, but also in the defensive point of view, is pressing, his ability to recover, what he can do for the team in terms of leadership,

he's always going to play because of them other attributes, even if he's not on form. So that's my argument with Phil Ford. I think sometimes he does go missing in them games where he's potentially not the main kind of guy. Yeah, I think we might be being slightly unkind to Phil Foden this season. I think last season he really did go missing. I think this season he may have had a slow start.

And then I think he hit a real purple patch where, you know, you've mentioned his scoring and assisting. you know, I think there's a few games subsequently where he's been slightly off it now. But, yeah, I think we may be being a little bit harsh on Foden this season. I think he's a grafter. I think he's a hard worker. I think that Shirky came in for a period. And I don't know whether things necessarily changed.

But when Shirky came in, you think Poden and Shurkey feeding Harland, that's going to work. Well, I actually think, you know, the biggest problems are defensively for Citi. I mentioned the loss of Diaz. and loss of of Guardial, chopping and changing in the back line. You know,

whatever you're saying, you can compare this Sydney team to city teams of the past where they used to wipe the floor with teams and score four or five goals.

If that's, you know, if that wasn't happening, they were, you know, more than likely keeping clean sheets and had that continuity at the back.

And that's where it's a struggle. A final one, Rachel, and I sort of hate myself for asking this, really. Well, you're going to anyway. Yeah, I'm going to anyhow. Yeah, yeah. Because it just,

I feel like, I mean Guadiola himself has kind of said this It's like it's the same thing Every year or every couple of years With his contract situation Do you buy into a lot of the talk at the moment That this could be his last season Or do you just think I've been here before several times

Or do you look at him and think Oh maybe this is a bit different Yeah I think Again difficult to judge what's going through Guadiolla's head I've given up second guessing him But there's a lot of chat about Moresco Wasn't there when he left Chelsea that he'd potentially been speaking to the powers that be at City.

They will have a successor in already, I think, in place. You know, that's the way that they operate behind the scenes, the Rubber professional, whether it's Moreska company, Alonzo, I don't know yet, but yesterday, Peck was particularly spiky, wasn't he, to the media after the game? And I just thought, is that a man who's had enough and wants to walk away? What I don't want to happen, because he's brought us so much success, We don't want it to go down the Arsenal route when Arsend Venger's last season was pretty much a disaster

and, you know, with the banners with Venger out and all the rest of it, that does not feel fitting for Guadiola and what he's done, not just for City, but for English football. So that would be a real shame if that happened. You don't, you know, he's always a legend at Man City and we want him to go with that, it would be a real shame if over the next 12 months things just fizzled out. Hello, this is Matt Chawley's urgent questions, your daily dose of political mayhem from the heart of Westminster. Order, order, I call Matt Cholley. I'm a supporter of flags.

It turns out time is finite. Government doesn't want to be involved in this. I did not think the candidates are fruit of us. Matt Cholley's urgent questions. Subscribe to the podcast and you'll get the best bits every day from around 5 o'clock. Listen on BBC Sounds. This is... the Monday nightclub with Mark Chapman

on the Football Daily podcast As far as Tottenham are concerned As Danny Murphy sort of said on match of the day last night a little bit rory It's quite simple really isn't it Pass forward, run forward when you tackles And all of a sudden, straightly enough,

fans tend to be on side Yeah, there's no I think Jack Pitt Brooklyn, the Athletic has made that point as well that there's been this sort of discussion of the atmosphere at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium most of which leaves out the fact that if you don't give the fans anything to cheer

they're not going to cheer there is a direct relationship between the on-pitch product and the atmosphere in which it's played I suppose the one I don't want to take issue with any of Danny Murphy's punditry ever but the one thing I would say

is that presumably Thomas Frank has been trying to get his players to do that all the time so you wonder why it was right at the last you know the booze from the Semenio goal basically running through until half time, apart from the bit where Semenya fell over

when everyone laughed, and that was a nice sort of light-hearted break in proceedings. You wonder why it sort of clicked then. And what we're talking about with on City, like there's two teams on a pitch and Stiles make fights, and it might well be that City kind of played into Spurs' hands,

that they allowed them into the game in that way, or that they were vulnerable to what Spurs were trying to do, or that Thomas Frank made a time, tactical switch that Pepp couldn't counteract, but something changed that half time, and the Spurs team that came out

in the second half looked completely different to the Spurs team that has appeared in the Premier League for most of the last six months. Pass forward, run forward. Spurs have a proper centre forward now in Dominic Solanke. That's the way I feel. And I felt all season, and I like

Rich Charles and I like his devilment. And, you know, he's, you know, he's somebody, you know, maybe want on your team, but he's not Dominic Solanke. And, you know, I've always felt, you know, since he went to Tonham, he's a good all-rounder, Solanky. He will score goals. I know in the early part of his career, he wasn't prolific,

but, you know, he was certainly prolific at Bournemouth, and I got why Tottenham came in for him. But just having a proper number nine, somebody who will run him behind, somebody who has variation to the play will mix the game up. I mean, his goal was slightly fluky. I would have liked to score one like that myself. But, I mean, you know, it was... Fluky.

It wasn't fluky. Oh, well, it was a bit... Oh, come on. What, the spin, the spin when I went past Donner rummer. It was. It was brilliant. Taking... Yeah, it was a bit of innovation.

I love it. But it was a bit of a bit of a fluke. I'm jealous. I never would have... Yeah, jealous. Definitely. That is absolutely jealous. But I do think that that he's a big difference.

And Tom, and Tom, Tom's issue has been a little bit like Manchester City's issue, but worse. They've played in patches this season. I did the game with Ian Dennis Mark at Burnley. And first half, Tottenham should have been out of sight. And all of a sudden, Burnley scored just before half time. And that was Burnley's first proper attack, really. And then you're thinking, you know, are Spurs going to respond in the second half?

And they went missing. Burnley were better than Tottenham. And then at the end of the Tottenham came back, then they were the Romero header who's bailed them out numerous times. this season. But I was pleased for Thomas Frank, and it was, you know, the second half, the way the support has got behind him and the team, you know, maybe that was the turning point. But Spurs, you know, Rory keeps mentioning the Champions League. Spurs are rocking it in the Champions League. It's because it suits them much better. It's same as City, same as Liverpool,

playing those teams that are willing to be open and try and play. Spurs are good. They've got loads of good footballers. I think the other little bit of context with Thomas Frank and Solanke's kind of proof of this, 11, 12 players out injured. As they come back, Spurs will get better. Their two best players have barely, I don't, in fact, may not have kicked a ball all season, Madison and Kulis Feschi. You know, they have been without them for months and it's not clear to me whether it's really fair to judge Thomas Frank on, you know, a half-bitch squad. I think Radia hadn't started a game for a year and came into the squad yesterday. It was a big call,

to take, not just to take Romero off, but to put Sauron in his place and change system. That's three big shifts and Thomas Frank had the nerve to do it and I think Jonathan Pear said in the comment show match the day that, you know, that looks an awful lot like a squad that's playing for their manager.

The widening it out with City's draw yesterday, does it is it slightly ridiculous Steph, do you think, that people keep focusing on nervousness around Arsenal when teams change them and making a right pig's ear of it at the moment for differing reasons i.e. City and Villa.

Yeah, I mean, I think there's so much talk about Arssel because it hasn't been done for a while this this Premier League trophy but I do agree in terms of that's my frustration with City is that when we've had opportunities to try and close that gap. We're blaming tactics, we're blaming players being injured but actually it's about just getting the job done however that is and that seems to be the case a little bit with Villa at this moment time. I think the last two. home games, Brentford and Everton, you're probably expecting the run of form that Villa are on. And the likes of Morgan Rogers, who's on form,

you're expecting them to win that game if they were to chase down the title. So I understand why there's so much talk about Arsler, but I think as pundits and being on radio, I think we have to think about, okay, what's it going to take for them teams to kind of close that gap on Arsenal? Well, I read this article from a journalist over the weekend

that was basically telling all of us off, really. I mean, you know, it's a bit preachy in places, but it's as follows. There is a discrepancy between the nature of Arsenal's season and the perception of it. Arsul's fans will doubt until the title is mathematically certain, and that is as it should be. But do you know what, Steph, there's absolutely no reason, according to this journalist, for the rest of us to join them. Yeah, wise words, chappers, wise words.

From Arroy Smith in the Observer, that. Yeah, there you know. I'll take that. No, I was at Ellen Road on Saturday, and it's jarring to me to watch. And Arsenal had a bad couple of weeks. There's no point pretending that that they didn't. But if you watch Arsenal when they are kind of doing what they do, they are by such a long way the best team in the country.

What is it they do, what they do then? What are you saying with that? Do you know, they didn't create a single chance in the first half at Ellen Road, and they were two in a little up at half time. That's what they put in one decent, ball and a sort of competent ish corner and they got two goals and then in the second half they just

pulled, they just pulled away from Leeds, held them at arm's length. It was a it was the sort of performance you got from Marino's Chelsea where they were just bigger, stronger quicker, better, smarter than everyone they played. And it is, like the reason that their fans

are stressed and that their fans are edgy is that they haven't won a lead title for 21 years. That's a, and that is, they're going to be nervous until it's mathematically certain because I think I said to you before, Chapas, like I think the teams that haven't won the lead for a long, long time, don't really need to be in a race, they need a procession,

otherwise it's just too much to handle. I think what's happened outside that is that because of what Steph refers to, which is the sense that Arsenal haven't done it before, and they're in this quandary where if you haven't won it, we don't know if you can win it. I think a lot of the discourse, not on this

program, obviously, ignores what happens at the weekend, when for the most part Arsenal are completely flawless. They had, I'd say, two bad results in three weeks. The Soccer Punchbow United should have beaten Liverpool at home and we're a bit sort of anemic. I think a point that Forrest isn't a bad result particularly, to be perfectly honest,

Forrest are quite tough. You are allowed to draw games on your way to winning the title. In those five days between games, we kind of build ourselves up into, oh, can Arsenal cope? And for the most part, what happens at the weekend is they prove amply that they can cope. And you see Havert's snock back in. into the team, arguably their best centre forward, but can play a number of different roles at the weekend. The panic in the fantasy football world when Saka got injured,

he's in my team. And then Madiweke just slides in and performs. You look at the Arsenal bench at the weekend, Ezra on the bench, Martinelli, Jesus Califiori, Odegard. And you think, the biggest thing, or the reason they will win the title is that we've talked about Manchester City and their deficiencies. You know, as Steph mentioned

Aston Villa and, you know, I really feel for Ashton Villa because, you know, they lost to Everton and then lose at the weekend to Brentford. Had they won those games, they would be closer. But, you know, is their squad strong enough? It's small margins.

But I just can't see another team. I can't see City going on one of their city runs where they win nine, 10, 11 games, which they may have to do to knock Arsenal off their purpose. And you can just see, like Rory said, they're German in their efficiency. They'll just keep grinding it out and grinding it out and winning in their way. They aren't beautiful.

But, you know, our Teter over the years has developed this team where, you know, it's all about power and structure and being efficient. And they are by far the best at it. I think I was laughing at Rory's description of the corner, competent corner. But he did that every single time he had a corner, Madwecky and coming into the team and I think that was definitely a game plan of us. I know we spoke so much about set pieces

but... Well, Shea did a big thing on match of the day with you, didn't he? He cannot believe that teams haven't tried to do something different. It was actually quite an interesting debate. Chap was obviously becoming from a keeper because I'm like, what would you do in that scenario because there just seemed to be so many bodies around

the goalkeeper? Like, you want space, you want space to come and get the ball and that's what he said about leaving more bodies up. Can you try and force Arsenal? back but I think for me the biggest thing that Arsler is even though we've said about the set pieces and them scoring goals he actually scored two from open play on Saturday and there were very good goals from substitutes that combined and the likes of Odegaard you're leaving the captain on the bench it's a brave move from Artea but I think in terms of that strength and death Havert's

coming in for his first starting that number 10 position played well did what he had to do but at this stage in the season and all the talk that's been around Arcel it's about getting the job done and going to Ellen Road and in Quine and the crowd down and as soon as you possibly can. It worked in Arsenal's favour and I don't think leads the team that we've seen over maybe the last few weeks. I don't think it was the best performance from them,

but I think Arsenal really stopped them from doing that. I think the corners were interesting because Madueke particularly put them near post every single time as though he was trying to score and that isn't what you expect with Arsenal is you expect them to have that kind of back post charge from the big sort of battalion at the back. So they've obviously changed their plans

and they've maybe found something that teams will find equally difficult to deal with. But they should be conscious of the moral impact of what they're doing because we had a game on Sunday morning in under-eighths football and chappas, you would have been involved with youth team football. Set pieces are not a major part of the game. It's not something anything ever happened from. But have you coach your under-eight to do the near-post corner? No, no, no, the opposition when they have a corner.

Oh, it's the opposition. kept saying, stand on the keeper. And I thought this isn't what you should be doing. We don't need to teach them to stand on the keeper just yet. Don't block the keepers run. The keeper's got no idea what they're meant to do. You don't need to block their run. No one's allowed to head it.

I was going to see you can't head it, can you? That is the moral impact into grassroots football of what Arsenal are doing. Now you've got children surrounding goalkeepers, so they can't come and claim corner. You lost. Did you have a word with the last? Do you have a word? Yeah.

We won seven one. Oh, right, okay. Did you have a word with the opposing coach? Seven corners. All from open play. No, maybe one from a set piece. Did you have a word with the opposing coach about that? It's not for me to dictate to other coaches, you know, what they prioritize with their children.

But it's just not something that we would teach. We do have a kid called Louis who can score direct from a corner. So we let him do that. Right. I mean, that's his special skill he's got. We've not taught him. That's not a special skill. That's just being able to kick it that far.

At the age of seven, that's a special skill. Not easy. But going back to how you would defend it, Chris, would you go along with Shea that you're surprised that teams haven't tried to do something different? Whether that be, as Shea suggested on Saturday night, put three players up front so that you're basically challenging Arsenal whether they're going to have four people back.

Yeah. And his point of view as well, from a goalkeeper's point of view, is that actually you need more room and more space. So actually, if you have more people out the box, you have that space. But would it, you know, fundamentally, things don't change because Arsenal, with their delivery and their superiority, you know, Gabrielle Saliba, in there, people just can't match them. It's about, I always think it's it, because Leeds, I think, when they went zonal, just off memory of the game at the weekend.

And, you know, ironically, ironically, the second goal, the own goal, that wasn't an Arsenal player in and around Darlo. It was Dominic Calvert Lewin, wasn't it, who was in his way. But I think blocks are the best way. And then, you know, and then you need people who can match and have that desire and read the flight of the ball and go and head the ball. And leaving three up, you're still going to leave, you know, Saliba, you're still going to have to deal with Saliba and Gabrielle and the delivery. But why couldn't you put, why couldn't you put, I'm just using Leeds as the example because they played them? But why couldn't you have, I don't know, Rodon on Gabriel and stack on Saliba and Calvert Lewin on, you know, rice if the corner was coming in from the other side? And track and go with them and back yourself to beat them in the air.

Yeah. Yeah. And you can go with that. But I mean, you know, Steph will tell you as well. You know, if you want to go man for man, teams, teams, you know, Arsenal are smart enough. They'll just block you. You know, they'll find a way. And because the delivery is so accurate, that's the way I used to score goals off corners.

You know, myself and John Hartson would always work a block. And if your delivery is that good and on point, then the team you're playing up against, you know, they've had it. So, you know, it doesn't matter whether you go zone or you go, well, you go man for man. If you don't have people, you know, that very bait who can match up and do that very basic thing of, you know, out muscle and go and head the ball, then you're, you know, you're pretty much screwed. The problem is that the first team that tried Shea's suggestion, and he's completely right, the first team that tried it,

if they conceded from a corner, everyone would slaughter them. And it's the same reason that goalies always have walls, despite the fact they shouldn't always have walls. Like, it doesn't make sense to have a wall every time. From 35 yards, you don't need a wall. You should be able to see the shot. But they won't do it, because if someone sticks one in the top corner,

they'll look stupid. Yeah, and you are, you know, if you stick another player all to up the pitch, then you're actually leaving these superb headers of a football, more space to go and attack. And, You see the way that teams set up in the, you know, often, you know, teams from goal kicks, they'll leave three for three at the back anyway.

That doesn't sort of phase teams nowadays. It's just what happens. You're basically saying you cannot defend against Arsenal corners. I'm not saying that. I'm saying that you need people who can match Saliba, Gabrielle, you know, Havert and cope with that delivery. I mean, it's no fluke Arsenal scoring all these set plays, but the delivery is so good.

They are so accurate and they work it. Well, you don't often see, you know, over the years you see, you know, silly fouls from players. The way they do it, they are so super smart in the way that they set up at set plays. But I'm saying, you know, you have to match up. Let's move on. Your match of the day analysis on Saturday was on Hugo Eckertique. Yeah, he was very, very. good. I don't know whether

it's because Newcastle are coming to Anfield. It was a club that he was rumoured to go to. But I think in general, I think his overall player for Liverpool, he was fantastic. And I think, for me, I think he's obviously quame in, scored goals, but I think in general, like, you can see him improving. I think he's linking up with

Vert's very, very well. He's finding spaces. He's not scared to get on the half turn and shoot and drive forward. And in a space where Liverpool haven't been the most consistent, but if you look at the top performance, he he has definitely been one and I love watching him play. I think he's just all action every single game that he plays

and that's not just from an attack on point of view, but the work he does off the ball is exceptional. You said he's slowly becoming Liverpool Starman. And I think if you think at the beginning of the season when we're speaking about the likes of Vert's coming, Isaac obviously being injured, you're thinking you're probably looking more towards them too in terms of, of course, more Salas there

but hasn't produced the form and the stats that we've been so used to seeing. But I think for me, I think what he, brings to that team is just that little bit of rough and readiness in terms of like he's not scared to get involved with people he's chasing down defenders but at the end of the day he's a striker and he's able to create chances and also score goals and he seems to be thriving at that opportunity is it still chris though the question will still be sorry balance and and and de sacks injured so at the moment that doesn't even come into the equation. But Gakpo, Eckerticay, Sala, and Vertz either in behind or as part of a three,

is a great attacking force, but can still leave them vulnerable defensively, can't it? Yeah, I mean, it can do. What I would say, the longer the season has gone on with, with, Vits, and I think Eckerti K has been the real sort of, I think to say it's been a, to say it's been a pleasant surprise, but I don't think there was any great expectation on him this season, this Steph has mentioned, because ESAC was going to be the big star player. Veertz was going to hit the ground running. That hasn't happened. Vyertz is actually getting going now.

But I think in terms of balance, I think Liverpool have greater issues in, you know, in other areas. You know, certainly that right fallback area, the area that Steph's mentioned, you know, the back area, you know, has been an issue, maybe performance-wise. I mentioned McAllister. I don't think that he's had his great this season for Liverpool, Gravin-Burch isn't probably as good as he was last season. But I think Eccatiko, in many ways, has been the shining light for them.

You wonder whether the sort of burgeoning of that partnership with him and Verts is the thing that might help Liverpool across the line, whether that's kind of finishing fifth and making the Champions League a decent run in the Champions League or something because the team is still unbalanced that that hasn't been solved we said before they've not

they've not signed any defensive cover Liverpool currently have I think four and a half fit senior defenders two left backs two centre halves and Joe Gomez who was a brilliant player but is often injured that's it and they're going to try and get through the season with it and that strikes me as being very odd

but even with all their flaws and there are still lots of them they haven't looked convincing at any point and they had a really rough first half hour against Newcastle if you have two players who understand each other as Verte and EKK seem to then you probably stand the chance you'd probably stand the chance of at least hurting your opponents which is more than they were doing earlier in the season

but how do you line them up like if you are I can't what brackets are they in for the quarterfying for the last 16. They are in the Spurs Galatasaray Atlatio Madrid, Juventus, Bruges Bruges bracket. Right. Okay. So if they

got if they got Atlatico Madrid in the last 16, how do you go away there and keep yourself defensively strong with, but by

playing Eckertic and Verts? Do you drop Gakpo and play Verts coming in from the left? I personally would drop Gakpo and play Virtz coming in from the left with Echok-T-Front and Sala on the right, but Arna Slot won't. He will play Cody Gapow.

But then I should point out that Arna Slot is a Premier League title winning manager and I'm not. Well, except you're under-eighths one. Well, the under-rates are doing all right, on current form, you would have to play VIRT just in terms of find a place from because he is creative. And I like Gapel, I really do, but I feel

as though if you want that goal threat going forward, you've got to sacrifice something. or is that maybe playing an extra midfielder, whether it is Macalester, Jones, Gravenberch, whoever that might be, and if Sobersy is playing right back, of course you lose him in the middle of the park. So I think for me, going forward in that Athletical Madrid kind of instance,

if that's who they're going to play, it's how do you find a way to get them too far and also to stay defensively stable? And Liverpool haven't done that this season. That's probably one of being a flaw, but when it gets to the crux of these big games, they're going to have to find a way to be able to do both. But that's what Liverpool have been so good at in the past. I thought it was interesting watching...

I was going to say very quickly, Chris. It was interesting watching match the day last night when Danny and Troy were doing the bit on City in the first half at Tottenham playing the 4-2-2, which is how Liverpool played in Marseilles, and I think that's Liverpool's best performance of the season. And it gets dismissed a little bit because we think French football, Farmers' League, etc.

but they were excellent that night against the very dangerous attacking team and it struck me as that being that that formation is the obvious way to get all of your best players into the team and roughly in the right position and I don't think 4231 which is what slot wants to play I don't think that does it but 4222 the magic box would would work best one salla has moved on

wouldn't it yeah or yeah if you well yeah I think salad can do it to be honest and it might help sanity he sat there for yeah but it helps salad as salad's not not whether salad just just go through

so the Liverpool team so the 4-2-22 for Liverpool against Marseilles was who who was who was the two the two deepest ones would have been McAllister Gravenberch it would have been Gravenberch and Soberch fly deeper and McAllister and Vertz further forward. I just think, yeah, sorry, just going back on the Gakpo,

it's who is most effective in that position. I don't think you can sort of crowbar vits off that left hand. So Gakpo is a better dribbler with the ball. You know, he's a totally different player. I don't think that Vertz, you know, is it creative. I know you're wobbling your head around here, Rory, which is fine. They are totally different players for that position. Beitz is a, you know, he's a craftsman.

He'll come inside and pick a pass. And the longer the season has gone on, you know, I get what you're saying. He does have that understanding with Eckertique, but who's going to, you know, who's going to give them the greater threat on that, on that left-hand side? And Gakpo, you know, I don't think he's,

I don't think he's had a bad season at all. And so, you know, I bet it is the one thing I can't work out is, You know, you're talking about the balance, Mark. Is Vertz that much of a liability defensively in, you know, in the team in midfield? I know, you know. Hang on. I didn't say.

I wasn't saying liability. But what you've got, what you have if you were to play those four is you've got four very offensive. Attack-minded players. Yeah. No, I don't think he's a liability, Chris. I think that's what Liverpool have probably struggled this season is trying to find that right balance and personnel that really complement each other.

And I think you've mentioned before about McAllister, he would normally be, when he's on top form, that ability to do a bit of everything and tied up but also going to attack. And I just think that's something that Liverpool, he's tried a lot of combinations in midfield. I think Jones had a bit of a run in the team that now he's back out.

Then you look at Zobber Slice, he plays in midfield and goes back to right back. So I think I think I, I like Gapo. I'm not saying to totally drop him, but in that instance of Athletical Madrid, if you have to go and win and try and get something away

and you're wanting versus the team, I think if he was to stick with a normal 4, 2, 3, 1 system, I think he's obviously played there previously for Leverkus and he's being effective in that sense. That would be probably my way of putting him into the team. I think you three are being glass half empty here. I'm being glass half full,

you know, we see Bodeclimp be at Lettico, Madrid. But Liverpool may not even play Athletico Madrid. It was just a... I just picked a team, just as a... You know, to give an example. The final point here is, though, is that Ekitika is the first name of all of them on the team sheet, isn't he? Chris?

Yeah, I think so. I think he's been a revelation, a lot made about Liverpool signings this season. But he, I've got to say, he already would have known more about him. than me. I thought he would be a bit of a slow burner. I think looking back at last season

for Eintrack Frankfurt, his numbers were good. Before that, though, Rory, I mean, his, you know, his sort of numbers, had to look back at the previous seasons, his number, sort of goal scoring numbers weren't particularly good. So he is literally a player who has

burst onto the scene and flown, hasn't he? Well, you speak to talk about bursting onto the scene. Chris, Hugh directed C-K started his career at the French football club that Mike and most likes Mark Chapman.

Oh, Raz! Rouse! Rass! Where he was kind of, yeah, the sort of boy wonder. And then I think he maybe had a couple of years

where he wasn't quite in the right context to fulfil that. I mean, signing for PSG and stuff is maybe difficult to break into that team. But Frankfurt, he was excellent. Frankfurt do have a long and proud history of producing amazing strikers, most of whom do want to be slightly disappointing when they've left.

So I was with you, I thought EK might take a year, a year 18 months to really bed down. You expect Adverts to hit the ground running because of the price and the talent. But Echatikai has looked good immediately and has, along with Soberts-Ly, kind of carried Liverpool through the season. That's it, thanks to Rory, Chris and Steph, reaction to the League Cup semi-final between Arsenal and Chelsea

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