Football Daily - Premier League Review: A statement draw for Chelsea?

Episode Date: November 30, 2025

Did Chelsea make a statement with their 1-1 draw against Arsenal? Enzo Maresca’s side took a point and caused Arsenal problems despite playing more than 50 minutes with 10-men after Moises Caicedo��s first-half red card.Rick Edwards is joined by Don Hutchison and Luke Edwards to discuss that and whether Liverpool’s 2-0 win against West Ham gave a first glimpse of what they might look like post-Salah. They also talk about; the mental strength Manchester United showed to come from behind to win 2-1 at Crystal Palace, Newcastle United’s first away win in 7 months, and Spurs poor home form. Timecodes: 02:10 – Chelsea 1-1 Arsenal – a statement draw for Chelsea? 16:20 – Arne Slot’s assessment of Liverpool’s 2-0 win against West Ham 19:10 – How important is Isak’s first Premier League goal for Liverpool? 21:50 – The first glimpse at a post-Salah Liverpool? 30:12 – A lack lustre performance from West Ham 31:47 – Half-time teaser 35:33 – Crystal Palace 1-2 Manchester United - Bruno Fernandes interview 38:21 – Manchester United’s mental strength showing 44:23 – Newcastle United’s first Premier League away win in 7 months 46:40 – Spurs poor home form continues

This BBC podcast is supported by ads outside the UK. The Dakar Rally is the ultimate off-road challenge. Perfect for the ultimate defender. The high-performance Defender Octa, 626 horsepower twin turbo V8 engine and intelligent 6D dynamics air suspension. Learn more at landrover.ca. Hello and welcome to the Premier League review, joining me to Dissect the Weekends Action,

the Telegraph Northern Football Writer, Luke Edwards, and former Liverpool and West Hamiltielder, Don Hutchison. How are we all? All good? Good. Good. Very good, Rick. I've got to check this, Luke. Did you miss me a little bit last week when I was alive?

Be honest. Yeah, I did. I did. Aaron Paul was great standing in for you, but I did find myself missing your company. on a Sunday evening, I did. So much so that I looked through your Wikipedia page, Rick. But as part of the pod, or just as you're moping on your own?

Just moping on my own, because I missed you. That's some heavy stalking there. It is, isn't it? It's the sort of thing that makes you feel slightly uncomfortable. Yeah, I mean, I just took a keen interest in your career. Yeah, fabulous. But that wasn't the main, no, not TV programs I hadn't heard of. And then now back on the rise.

That's something about you, not me, mate. No, it really doesn't It really doesn't I think because I'm significantly younger than you I was doing a lot of stuff Target at a different audience maybe Is it that? Definitely weren't significantly younger than me

Aren't significantly younger than me I get the field There needs to be an injunction between yous to In terms of you know You can never be in the same room Possibly Well actually we never are in the same room No

And there is a reason for that Don It's in his contract I believe Does it feel like you've accidentally stumbled into a sort of lover's tiff I'm so sorry It sounds amazing A proper brotherly love it is

The two is just going hammering tongs at each other It's fascinating I've got to tell you it is always like this as well It's absolutely standard So let's park that momentarily And talk about the football We've just seen Chelsea Arsenal One all it finished

Arsenal now five clear at the top of the Premier League Five ahead of Manchester City Enzom Rescott played for more than 50 minutes 55 minutes probably with 10 men after Moises-Caida was sent off in the first half and you'd assume, Don, that it will be Chelsea that are the happier with that result?

Oh, 100%. 100%. When you play that amount of time with 10 men and you're digging in. And I say digging in quite loosely because at times I thought they were the best side. I thought even though normally the rhetoric and normally the dynamic of a game when you've lasted that long

and you see the clock and you see it about 80, 85, it's to take a backward step and right, protect what we've got. We're still trying to go for the win. so fantastic game of football but yeah I think Moresco when he analyzes where they were how far they've come

I think you'd gladly take the point what did you think about the red look yeah it's a red card yeah it's a red card Don you agree yeah scruffy yeah that's the thing I thought it is a red

it doesn't feel sort of malicious there's not like dangerous dangerous intense scruffy is yeah scruffy's a really good word he'll have more than Kaisaido Rick because he's a he's not a clean tackle of the ball he always goes in

like with total honesty yeah he does he goes in with total honesty and I don't think there's any sort of malice in these tackles but sometimes he can be very clumsy it's full speed it looked I mean I know they were the sort of people will say or when you slow it down it looks terrible it looked terrible at full speed

I mean that's why he's got sent off because it's the speed with which he comes in and then makes the contact yes it looks bad slow down but actually in real time it also looked pretty bad as well six red cards in all competitions for Chelsea this season and you do wonder they were the better team with 11 versus 11 quite comfortably

probably gave Arsenal a proper going over I thought before Casado's sending off Did you think so? I thought it was a bit I mean yeah I would agree they were probably slightly on top Maybe it's fairly left-luster Yeah not going over but they were the better team They were the better team and I haven't seen many clubs do that to Arsenal this season, if any, really.

So I always keep saying I'm not entirely sure what Chelsea are and whether I'm convinced by them or not, but in a way, that draw today, the manner of it, doing it with 10 men, but how they were 11 versus 11, I do am starting to think that they are the real deal. It really impressed me today on a lot of levels in many different ways. And it's a shame for us as neutrals.

I mean, that we didn't get to see 11. to 11 because I think Chelsea would have really fancied their chances of beating Arsenal today. Once the red came out, you sort of assumed that Arsenal would kick on and win it, Don. But they were a bit

below par today, I think, for various reasons. Yeah, I think the only team that's rattled in the season was Sunland away when they got a 2-2 draw at the game. Sunland really went at them and got in their faces. Chelsea sort of copied that a little bit because they've got really good athletes, Chelsea. They're quite young sometimes they're immature, but they're maturing.

That was a real test for them because I've seen them when they lost against Sunland at Stampera Bridge and Sunland deserved all three points. They're going to have, I think, that sort of loss in them every night and again. But what they are is they're starting to mature, they're starting to listen to Moreska. I think they're getting the ball forward a lot more. They're playing with more dynamism. I think the criticism from Chelsea fans last season, I was at Stampera Bridge a few times last season, even when they got a result or they lost or they grew, he actually got quite a hard time

Moreska, because I thought maybe he was a disciple from Gordiola where he wanted to slow a pace football. I always think having played against Chelsea and watched a lot of football over the decades, their best attribute is when they get the Chelsea crowd involved in the game and really, really use that atmosphere because there's a feisty place to go. Maybe he's the Chelsea fans of, or maybe Moreska sort of listen to what the Chelsea fans want, because now they're starting to play really good football and they're looking like sort of the real deal. third best team in the country is my label of them

behind Manchester City and Arsenal Liverpool and then yeah yeah I think I agree not Liverpool third best team in the country behind Manchester City and Arsenal where they are in the league in other words one thing I was a bit

confused by and maybe maybe it's an injury thing is when Moreska bought Gunnacho on for Estabal slightly selfish here because I just love watching Estabal play but also he was

he was giving Califiori a really a really tough time and it just didn't I just didn't really get it but that's why you're not a football manager Rick. You are many things but the reason you didn't get it is you not a football manager well neither are you did you get it?

Yeah well yes I did I think he wanted to bring on Garnaccio's legs and speed and they were down to 10 men so they probably wanted that extra bit of pace on the counter Garnacho I'm very pleased he stopped dying his hair That is a big, big improvement for me, so I'm pleased about that. And he's, you know, do I get it?

Can I explain it fully? No, but he's the manager, and he would obviously realise what he's doing. So it was done for a reason that they come away with a point. So yeah, you could say it worked. I would do anyway. Don? Yeah, I could see. I could understand it because the dynamic of the game was the players put an awful lot of energy into the game.

And then he's thinking and he's looking, he's right, trying to, analyze it from pitch level, which is always very difficult. If you're up in the stands, you can see the game with a lot more clarity. But standing there, he's probably thinking, right, do I make a change? Do I leave things? And that must be the hard thing, I think, for a manager. I always think it when I'm commentating on games, what would a manager do here? Does he stick with what he's got because it's going well?

And Esteva has a talent? Is it getting a little bit physical? Is he starting to get a little bit leggy? You don't want the kid getting injured. What do we do now with whatever, 20 minutes to go, speed, garnacho? He can take players on it. can get maybe his timber on a on a yellow card he can take them up the pitch a little bit more because they are so deep so yeah I think it's a it's a natural dynamic when I played it used to

be a dribbler that could get you further up the pitch now it's the dribbling with the speed so it's sort of made sense and the bigger picture is they got the one one so you made the right decision a lot of yellow cards almost all of them for for arsenal so one for Chelsea six for Arsenal. And I do feel that that had an impact on the game and some of the some of the substitutions that Artetta made, Luke. Well, you have to because you know, you don't want to even it up, do you? If you're playing with a man advantage, you don't want to lose a player to a second yellow. And it was that sort of game where a second yellow felt possible. It did, didn't it? Yeah. It teetered on the brink of sort of turning quite violent. There were a lot of,

you know, challenges where people were leaving things on the opposition. There was a lot of people going down, clutching their faces. There was a lot of people rolling around in agony. And it was, you know, it was a very physical Premier League game between two sides who, you know, just as Don said, Chelsea wanted to get into the face of Arsenal, rough them up a little bit. That's probably a blueprint that people are going to follow this season after the Sunderland draw. And then Chelsea has sort of shown again today, you can upset them a little bit.

You can knock them out of their stride. You can try and drag them into a bit of an arm wrestle and a bit of a side. scuffle and it stops them playing. But I think Arsenal also, you know, they've done pretty well with Marino playing as a number nine, but they do need a centre forward back. They're doing well to kind of mask that deficiency at the moment. That was their big weakness last season.

Norse brought Jokores in in the summer. He's easing his way back now to fitness. So I think they've done very, very well to keep them themselves where they are and pick up the results that they've got. But I do think they do need a proper centre forward. and I think Gabriel Jesus is close to coming back as well, which is good news for them. One thing I've also about Arsenal as well,

they didn't look as solid defensively, did they? No. Today, with their two first choice centrebacks missing. We wondered what sort of impact that would have. And I think you could see the sooner they get those players back, the Saliba and Gabrielle, the better that's going to be for Artetta, because I did think they looked a little bit more vulnerable today.

Which, I mean, you would expect with your two excellent centrebacks out, although they have got good cover there. Marino is Arsenal's joint top scorer actually in the Premier League in 2025 with eight goals, five of them with his head. I don't know if you saw what Reach James said after the game. He said, I think everyone can see where we are and what we're fighting for. I think today was a big statement. I agree with that, Don.

He was a man of the match by a mile. I watch Reese James and one for the older viewers, if they can remember Tom Huddleston spurs, the way he used to spray balls all over, place like an NFL quarterback. That's Reese James, but he can play a variety of positions. I mean, there was some passes he made today. I mean, he was drilling balls out to the left-hand side of the winning 50-50s. If he stays fit, he is like an NFL quarterback. He's his ranger passing superb. He can play it short. He's cute around the corners. He's got the 40-50-odd diagonals

in the bag with the correct weight of pass. I thought stand-out players by a mile. He was brilliant. But he's writing his assessment. What Chelsea needed, I think when they're trying to the likes of us and everyone watching around the world is when they play a big team when they pass the tents against Liverpool, can they do it against Arsenal? They passed a big test today and that'll be huge for that dress room. They'll go in tomorrow morning

it'll feel like a win because it was 10 of the 11 that took a couple of points away from their arch rivals in a London Derby. They'll feel great going into their next few games. We'll always worry, don't we as well over Chelsea? Just because the manner of the project there, that there's a big turnover of players. They'd have a big squad and you wonder about unity

and togetherness the kind of vital ingredients for a successful team were doing that with 10 men today showing that strength in adversity coming through it together that is a big big step forward because that's always a little bit

the doubt we have not only that they lack a bit of experience in that squad but are they really together when things are going against them when games aren't going their way when factors sort of conspire against them how are they going to respond but they responded brilliantly today

really really well and that's an excellent point for there, but it's not actually a bad result for Arsenal, I think, before the game. They'd take a point, you know, I hink away at Chelsea today. Do you know, Rick, Rich James said they passed to test today, which they absolutely did.

Now they've got two away games on the spin. They've got to go to Leeds and they've got to go to Bournemouth. So those are the two games that, again, they've got to keep convincing everyone that this performance today, the result today, wasn't a semi-fluke if they went to Leeds and drew a game or lost the game or

in the game against Bournemouth. So, his big team's go as big clubs are, they've got to keep on kicking on. Yeah, although as you said right at the very start, they didn't look like they were playing through adversity today, even with 10. That's probably the biggest compliment you can pay them. Like it didn't look like they were massively up against it. Even right at the end of the game,

I know, Arsenal had a couple of chances, but nothing, it wasn't just sort of backs against the wall, was it? No, they defended really, really well, but that limited arsenal of chances and they were still going for it like you say Rick they were

they were still offering a threat and to do that with 10 men against the team that we are all saying now as we move into December we're all saying are the best team in the country

and are the team that you're going to have to beat to win the title this season that is hugely hugely impressive and yeah it's one of fun isn't it Moreska even though they're world club champions and he qualified

for the Champions League last season and there were there were sort of question marks about him going into the season weren't there and, you know, Chelsea have got that culture of whenever anything goes badly, you blame it on the manager and you change them. Well, he's answering a lot of those critics at the moment,

and there's a lot to be optimistic, I think, about, with Chelsea. Whether they're good enough to win the title, I still don't think so. I think they will fall short of that. I think they could, like Donna's just hinted out there, they could go and do this, and then you worry about them maybe dropping points at Leeds or at Bournemouth because that's the kind of habits they've got into over the last few years. but I think they are definitely heading in the right direction

and I think Moreska deserves a lot of credit as well because we know that's such a difficult job for a manager when you're always kind of living you're never more than sort of two or three defeats away from a crisis so he's handled himself really well and slowly but surely they are definitely improving. Yeah so they sit third six points behind Arsenal it's so tight this season

so between second and Fulham So City in second on 25 Fulham on 17 8 points Separating those teams So it's sort of You know

I mean just look at We're going to talk about Liverpool now Liverpool have had an absolutely Diabolical run Which they halted today Which will be a relief And they're now Three points off the top four

Which seems completely mad Yeah somehow That is true And I'll tell you the club That's really sort of snuck up sort of on the railings to use that that cliche but Aston Villa

Yeah Like Aston Villa They were the first Crisis Club of the season Because they couldn't score a goal And they couldn't win They were awful And Rick told us joked on

About one of his mates Said to him They'd forgotten how to play football They did look about that They've now won five on the spin They're fourth They are as just as much In the title race

If you want to call it that As Chelsea and Manchester City Where they are on the league So it's been a very strange I think their hangover I think their hangover boys more or less came from losing players in the summer

it was almost like they couldn't get any sort of serious transfer business done and everything seemed to revolve around the transfer window and it just felt as though it was a little bit doom and gloom off the pitch and that took itself onto the pitch

and they couldn't get started but you're right I mean five on the spin seven wins and eight they're one of the form teams in the country let's talk about Liverpool so they beat West Ham 2-0

at the London Stadium. First of all, let's hear what your friend Arnest-Lott had to say about it. The first and most important thing is winning. You can talk about performance and all kind of different things, but, yeah, results do matter the most when you've lost so many times.

And no, performance was, I think, very decent as well. And a clean sheet, is that important as well? If you want to have a chance, a bigger chance of winning a game of football than a clean sheet always helps. And I think it is important. to have a clean sheet because we conceded 10 goals in three games. So then not to concede a lot, I think we only conceded one chance.

And the good thing for us was that in the region games, every time the first chance of the involvement led to a goal. And today, I didn't. And the good thing for us was that they only had one chance. So but recently it's always the first one for them to score. And again, unfortunately, for us, we needed more than one chance before we scored our first. Dries Sark scores his first Premier League goal and it was instinctive. It was almost like he didn't

think about it. It was what you paid all that money for. How important for him is that to get that and move on now? As you just said about the clean sheet is important for the team as it is also important for us to score a goal and I think it's always nice when the number nine

and when your attackers score goals because they need that the more they score, the easier they have it when they arrive in front of the goal the next time. He was already close a few times, Alex. And he was also gross of being taken off because I saw him getting more and more tired

during the second half. But just in time, he finished a good cross from Cody, but it wasn't an easy finish because there was a little bounce in the ball, so it was indeed pure class. How he finished that one off. Mo Seller, you took him out the team today. What was the reason for that?

No, you're not the first one to ask that question. And I always, I've answered everywhere the same. So every time when I don't play Florian, you ask me about that. If I don't play Alex, if I don't play Hugo, now I don't play Mo. And that's normal because these are quality players. And Mo have been so important for this club and will be important for this club in the future. But we are playing four games in 10 days with 14 or 15 outfield players available. And I have to make sure that we keep them available because after those 10 days,

doesn't stop we just keep on playing and maybe in a week two weeks maybe one or two will come back from injury but so yeah decided today to pick these players and they did well we hardly conceded a chance and we

created enough to score at least one goal and in the end we scored two. On the slot speaking to Andy Gillies there wasn't a great performance and Liverpool didn't really have to be it's just all about the all about the result You message me, Luke, and said that you were quite happy

that Isak got his first Premier League goal for Liverpool. Yeah, quite happy. Yeah. I don't like seeing people suffer, Rick. You know, I have a big heart. I have a big, hard, cold exterior, but I have... It doesn't seem much sincerity coming through, the airwaves. I have to agree with you, Don.

I said I was quite happy and also quite... It sounds disingenuous, doesn't it? You can be both. I'm quite happy for him on a few. human level, quite annoyed on a professional level because I still have a lingering animosity towards him for the way he forced himself out of Newcastle. That is my cards on the table. That is complete and utter honesty. But on a human level, I'm pleased for him because I think he was suffering. I kept talking about mentally, I think he was suffering. I think it had hurt him

a lot. The way he had to get it right out. You kept texting me saying he's still on strike. He's still on strike. That's what you were saying to me. You weren't saying, oh, I'm worried about his mental health. That's not what you were saying. You just revealed a private phone conversation or what's that. A number of texts, yeah. Yes, is Isaac still on strike? Yes, I think I've had that textory about seven times. A number of times after every awful performance.

Yes, I've sent that to you. You just kept texting you, AWOL, AWOL, AWOL, AWOL. Today he came off strike. Well done. He returned to work. Well done, well done, Alex. It's a great Alexander. It's a great Alexand-Rish-Fitchak finish.

Great, that is a very Alexander Isak finish. Hard. It's a lot harder than it looks. It looks like a side foot tapping, but it's not. For in a Liverpool perspective, they will hope that is the thing that sparks something in him. Look, the Merseyside media were getting on his back, the supporters were getting on his back.

He was in a really, really tough spot. He was facing a lot of criticism. People were questioning his work rate, his heart, as well as his ability. has up to this point really, really struggled to justify that £128 million price tag and he's got that important first goal today and Liverpool

and him will be hoping that that is just a catalyst really for him now that he can get stronger, get fitter, get his confidence back. That could be a very, very important moment for him and it's nice for him to remember that he's not on strike anymore and to have returned to work and done what he's handsomely paid for today

Rick, so I won't be sending you that message anymore. Thank you. The cost per goal is still not great Slot was asked about the fact that he didn't play Mo Sala today There's an ask on the BBC Sport website the headline is Is this the first kind of glimpse at a post-salar Liverpool And the thing about it was Liverpool looked better I mean you can say that's slightly to do with the opposition Like West Ham were not good today

But Vertz had more space and probably had his best game in the Premier League. Easek obviously got the goal. Gomez coming in it right back and then having Chavez Lai sort of out on the... I mean, he wasn't like playing in the Sala role but he's kind of roaming around there.

It just all looked like it was working... It was just... Yeah, it looked like it was working better, Don. It's funny that, isn't it? I mean, I was on comms for the game today for the Premier League and Joe Gomez, were there being flashy,

just played the role as a defender. He just plays a right back, yeah. Exactly. Just be a defender. Nothing flashy. on the ball so Bosley I thought it was

difficult for him because he's played so many positions he was playing in the most Salawan today but a bit more inverted to try

and stiffen up the midfield Verth had his best game by a million miles I thought he was brilliant against Rio Madrid but he just

looked really really good today looked the shored the pitcher that he sees the balls around the corner the way to pass I mean I thought

he should have put he should have put one away in the first off because it's a big chance which a little bit sloppy in his finish but he fired

one into Gakpo which he should them better with. Isak should have scored early on in the game when Areola produced a magnificent save. So I actually thought the performance was there without Liverpool being flashy. I think to answer your question, I think when Mo Salah goes to Afcon, there's a space going to open up there. So whether that's Frimpon or whether that's Keiza, there's a position to fill.

The rumours about Semenio will not go away because he might be the future because it's the uncomfortable conversation, is it? You know, Mo Salah and Virgil Van Dyck, they can't go on forever. They literally can't. Maybe he's Virgil, but can because he plays in a centreback role where the pitch is all in front of him. So, yeah, that's the uncomfortable conversation. But I tell you what, I reckon Moselle I'll play midweek against Sondland. I think it's one of them where 53 consecutive starts before today, Mosella's made.

So Mabies on a slot just thought he looks a little bit jaded. He's looked poor. He's looked poor. And you've got to rotate at this time of year, Rick. Well, it against Round Madrid, though. Yeah, that's true. That is true, Don. But the schedule is brutal now.

I mean, it is going to be three games every eight, nine days for those top teams pretty much till March. So they've got to rotate every single. If you look at every single manager, they will be making changes to their starting 11th from game to game at the moment. And you've said it, Rick, you've been Mosella's biggest critics, I would say, actually. You know, you've not been impressed, have you at all? No, I think he's been awful. There has been some flashes, actually, I would say, where he just recently he started to look a little bit. bit more like himself but start the season that i thought he was i thought he was in the real

madrid game on it yeah people are going to be listening to this it's going to be it's going to be the start of december so it's taking him a long time to get up and running that there has been a debate hasn't there he was getting in the team sort of on former glories basically and in the hope that he that he came good we all sort of thought he would come good but we're quite you know we're four months into the season now and he hadn't so i don't even think it's that controversial a decision that Arna Slots made it seemed sensible

so where in the past it would have been oh my God he's not playing Salah for a game he must win away at West Ham actually most people just went yeah fair enough and that probably

lads do we think it's something a little bit more to do with Diego Jota and the passing and Mo Salah was really close to him that's some things you just can't measure and you shouldn't have to measure and it's okay I think

in the world we're living in today to say do you know what I'm really really struggling you know I'm really struggling because the manager's grieving, the players are grieving, and I know football fans around the world will go, ah, it's an excuse, but so what if it's an excuse? I know if I was inside of a dressing room

and I was in Liverpool's dressing room and I'd lost a teammate. I would be incredibly vulnerable. I'd be so emotional. And then your professional's head's got to go on on a match day, and then you tell the manager, yeah, yeah, Gaffer, I'm fine. I want to play, I'll play through it. Then when you sit back and you think about things,

Andy Robertson made a great point when Scotland qualified for the World Cup. He said, I thought about Diogo all day and all night. so something it's just going to it's going to have to take a bit of time maybe he's Mo Salas one that was extremely close to him is feeling it yeah and in which case it makes even more sense to give him

just a bit of a break time and space yeah a bit of time and space to grieve that does make sense but I know everything you're saying Don is absolutely bang on the money and completely right but it's football I guess we just don't know do we that's the thing we just don't know and it's football

and unfortunately you are judged as a footballer as you know Don it's what you do in 90 minutes isn't it in a game people rightly or wrongly don't you know the match going fans they don't care

and all they've seen is a Mosella out of form and we don't know I think without a doubt I think it must have had a hugely traumatic impact on that dressing room absolutely

but that wasn't going to save Arna Slot when you've got former players like Jamie Carricka saying he's got three games to save his job Arna Slot really needed that win today really needed that win. Yeah, bro, I don't think Jamie's being sensitive there.

I don't think he's looking at the bigger picture there when he's talking about the manager. Maybe he's just talking about the football. Well, I reckon Arnold Slots having the conversation with the hierarchy, and maybe he's being really honest to the hierarchy and said, listen, it's going to take us a little bit of time. You know, when Jamie said that Mosala's legs have gone, his legs have not gone.

His legs haven't gone. He's just gone for a bad period of time. Yeah, but when you've spent close to half a billion quid, Oh, I get that. I get that. To improve the title and you're, you know, back in August, we were saying they're going to walk the league. I do get that.

What have you? How many did they lose? Eight out of 12? Nine out of 12. It's something like that. I think on Salad, the thing about his legs, I think it's interesting because I would say that his legs are nothing like what they were in 2017, 2018, 2019, obviously. But then look at the season he had last season.

I don't think he's wildly different in terms of his kind of physical capacity. and he was electric last season. It just isn't, for whatever reason, it just isn't quite working. It doesn't feel to me like it's a physical thing. I mean, who knows? The whole team's been in a rut, though, isn't it? Nothing has gelled, nothing has clicked.

They were in a really, really bad place and somewhere that Liverpool Football Club never believe they're going to be in or expect to be in. They were in a terrible runner form. They had to win today. They had to win to just quiet. It might be something, as you know, he's lost Trent behind him.

Well, that's, yeah, that's true. You know, I talked about Reach James being a quarterback. We've never seen a right back like Trent Alexander Arnold. I don't think in my lifetime watching football the way he can control the game from right back and pick out passes. And Mo Salas been playing with him and right next to him for like, what, five, six, seven years. Them two had a brilliant relationship. And Mo Salas now is now looking at Frimpon.

He's got sort of, you know, three, four, five different players slotting him behind him. Would you re-sign him, Don? Don, would you re-sign him if you're Liverpool? Would you re-sign him? No, Trent. Trent, if he... Yeah, you would, but I mean, it's going to cost you... It's going to cost you $100 million. 80 to $100 million, I would imagine.

I don't know if they get that, but they're not playing him, really. I don't know. Whatever the... From a footballist point of view, yes, I would. After all the contrary as the summer, I would find that fascinating. I would love that as a journalist. I would love that story. if Liverpool suddenly went,

do you know what, Real Madrid? We'll buy him back for 50, 60. I think it would go down quite badly with a fan base if he ended up to have to pay 50 million quid net for our homegrown player. He was just gone on a holiday of Spain for six months. He could just hold his hands up and say, do you know what?

Like, I wanted to try it. I got it wrong. I'm home. You know what fans are like. One good game. One worldly assist. Basically, Ian Rush it. Exactly.

Exactly. Ian Rush. You can Ian Rush it. They call it the Ian Rush. I've just done a Rushie. I've done a Rushie. And everyone still loves Rushie. We should just mention West Ham. They've been on quite a good run.

So three games unbeaten. And today they were, I think they were really poor. Didn't have a shot on target. Yeah, I think Liverpool's defence was a bit more solid. But they just, they just didn't really threaten. Perfect opposition for Liverpool. Yeah.

Perfect. What they should have done is they should have done what they done in the last five minutes of the game when full crew came on and Thomas Sochek and just went really long

and bombarded Liverpool with long balls in the box. Which has been their undoing. Oh dear me, the pack of two yellow cards was a shambles from his point of view and West Ham's point of view.

But they were the perfect opposition. They were bang average today from a team that's been in decent form. The Picatta thing. On the TV coverage, they said, it's ridiculous behaviour, which I think we don't want to agree with.

He said, it's ridiculous to have your life and career effective for two years without any psychological support from the Federation. Perhaps this ridiculous behaviour is just a reflection of everything I've had to endure

and it seems have to continue enduring. I'm sorry if I'm not perfect. What he is referring to is these spot fixing charges. Yes. It was alleged that he had been picking up bookings deliberately for the proper purpose of affecting the betting market.

He has been cleared of those charges. After a long period. It's a very gruelling draining experience for him. We're going to talk about Manchester United's win at Crystal Palace shortly. First though, here is your half-time

teaser. Bruno Fernando, this by the way, Luke, is such a gimmy. I think even you might get it. Bruno Fernandez now has 56 Premier League assists for Manchester United, Only three players have more. Can you name them?

Of course you can. Answer on the way off to this. My name's Steve Bradnell, a sister manager of Royal Oak FC. You may have seen me online with Vinyl. Vinyl sensation. And now the BBC have given me the chance

to set the footballing world banter eyes. This could be a great opportunity for us, a podcast for the BBC. Can I just say, What's a podcast? Brilliant. Great start. Well done, Bob.

Brilliant. We can completely show utter transparency to Royal Oak fans. I'll use my charm. Gift it, gab. Games gone. The Steve Bracknell podcast. Watch on YouTube. Listen on BBC Sounds.

Bring more gear. Carry more passengers. Face greater challenges. Welcome to the world of Defender, with seating up to eight, ample cargo space, and legendary. off-road capability. It's built to make the most of every adventure. Learn more

at landrover.ca. On the Football Daily podcast, Premier League Review with Rick Edwards. Welcome back to the Premier League review. Before the break, I ask, can you name the three players with more Premier League assists for Manchester United than Bruno Fernandez? Now, Don,

I'm just going to assume that you will get these with ease. Lug's form is pathetic in the half-down teasers. Patchy. I got it last week. In my absence. And the week before. Yeah, you did get it the week before, actually. Can you make it the hat-trick?

I mean, this is very, very straightforward, I would think. Well, I'm going to go with Ryan Giggs. Yeah, I mean, the guy's got 162. Yeah. Rooney? Yes, 93. I've gone with Cantonar, but I'm not sure. It was so close. I'm thinking, Beck.

Beckham Beckham So I'm not giving that to you I think that's Beckham on 80 Why did I go Cantonar I don't know It's one of them though

When the question was asked When the question was asked I was thinking like Cantonart It just sort of comes from the back To the forefront of your brain Doesn't it It does but yeah my age

But he wasn't there for long enough No you're right But he was there at Cantanar Yeah I mean I used to wear my collar up On my shirt when I was playing youth team football. Are you one of these guys who says,

I had trials? Well, no, I could have made it. I had trials and I didn't get anywhere with any of them. Yeah, I mean, I'm definitely not one of them guys who says I had trials. No, you only say you had trials if you got anywhere with them. I failed every single one. No, unfortunately, you do meet people who say,

I had trials, so didn't get anywhere. No, I just, no, no, no. Infuriating people. I love them people. I love them people. I could have made it. It's quite easy for you to put back in their box, Don. I know, but I could have made it, you know, and you go, what went wrong?

Ah, coach was terrible. Awful coach. I'll tell you what wrong for me, Don. Willing heart, willing head, no talent. And you've got those trampoline feet, haven't you? Trampoline feet, 50p head. I could run all day. By the sounds of your description, you'd get in the wolf side.

Oh, ho! Wolves. Podcast favourite. Rupwolves, how's Rob Edwards doing? Anyway. Well, I can tell you, two points. Two points for 13 games. How many points did they have when he took over? Yeah, I think you know the answers to that, Luke.

That'll be next week's half-time, Jesus. Let's talk about Manchester United. Came from behind to win two-one away at Crystal Palace. That ended a run of three games without a win. Bruno Fernandez set up both of United's second half goals. I think first half we were a little bit slow with the ball, playing at their strengths, going wide with the ball, the pressure a little bit easier for them.

We're not very good in the second balls and reacting when we lose the ball. So that's what they were waiting for this game. They were not pressing to then being able on the second ball to have a lot of players in the middle of the park to get the counters. I think second off, that's what we change a little bit.

We were very aggressive on second balls, reacting when we lose it, and much more brave on the ball. Two sharp finishes that won the game for you. You provided the assist for both of them. Tell me about the quality of both of those goals though from Xerxes and Mount. No, unbelievable goals, obviously. I think the George won. I didn't think he could score from there. It was a hell of a strike. But I know his qualities. I know how good it is. We had one situation in training that we were training some set pieces. And me and him did exactly same set piece. Just by looking at each other and understanding where you wanted the ball. He just looked at me. It pointed where it was the space for him. And today it was just a it just said repeated again. And we did it. And I'm very, very proud of. the way he finished that goal.

The goal from Xerxes, I mean, it's quite a rare start for him and he's only starting because Cessco and Cooneyer are out. It is a fantastic, both sort of takes it on the chest and then the finish. It's a brilliant goal done.

It's a great goal. I think Dean Henderson and goal would ask questions of himself. Why didn't die that way? Why? Don, no, no, no, no, come on. You don't love to Zerxes. I will.

I think the defender might be annoyed. I will in a second It's a wrong side All right, sorry, sorry Okay Now I was just putting my sort of Pundit head on there From a Dean Anderson point of view

Take it off But yeah Took it off This team Because they've got no European football at all Should be a position In a position with the win today

They're three points I think of Chelsea Same points as Liverpool They should be doing a lot better Because they're not playing Three games a week It's a game and then it's six or seven days rest and then go again.

They should be performing. I think I got men in blacked in the summer when I got asked the question, where can they finish? And I went European football because I forgot everything that went on before and the shambles of last season. I think someone pressed the button in front of my eyes

and I sort of blacked out and thought, right, I forgot a lot, right, they can because I've signed in Bwomo and they've signed Cunea and they've got Bruno Fernandez. They should be doing better, but that was a good away win. Liverpool went to Palace. feels like an age ago and got beat in the last minute. So from Man United

going there, that's a really good win against one of the form sides, hard place to go. I was saying at half time, I was preparing to do this podcast and saying, oh look, Manchester United have turned another corner and they're back where they started. They were battered first half, weren't they wreck? Yeah, they were.

Crystal Palace looked really good, didn't make the most of the openings they created, a lot of dangerous positions they got into the pitch. You're thinking, this is pretty poor from Manchester United. This is this is kind of what we used to and I'm thinking oh God we'd be talking about

another crisis for Amoryam at this rate because I could only see one winner at half time but that's Xerxie goal changes the narrative the direction of the game Crystal Palace were poor second half compared to what they'd been in the first half they probably found it a little bit too easy

and football is full of those stories and it's Don just referenced in there Liverpool's collapse started at Crystal Palace if you think about it that was the first game they lost That's a really, really important win for Manchester United. Their league position looks pretty healthy,

and Don's talks about them getting into European football. They are still very, very flawed. They're very flaky, and they have obvious weaknesses, as we saw when they couldn't beat 10 men at home against Everton on Monday night. But they have gone to probably one of the toughest away games of the season on paper, and they've ended up winning. So, again, they confuse me a little bit, Manchester United.

They've certainly got a long, long way to go until we can talk about them being shoe-ins for the top four or getting anywhere near a title race. But there are just, games like today just make me think they are getting better. They are. I wonder as well, Lou, if just the mentality is improving a bit under Amarim

because I feel like even two months ago, if they'd gone one-nil down and we're getting battered in a first half, there's no chance they're coming back and winning it. And now there's just, you know, he's obviously said some stuff to them at half time and they've come out and they've got belief and they were, you know, I think they deserved it overall in the end.

Yeah, I think so. Don, do you? No, I do. Didn't they on the second half? I do. I do. I mean, the good news, the good news for Man United fans, they've got West Ham at home next in Wolves.

So they should be beating those two. But that's a hard place to go in a pretty intimidating atmosphere when you're away from home and, you know, guys like, Munoz and Metetta and Adam Wharton and Coir and Gay, good team good team, good team

that's a good three points out on the road and then where they'll slip up though which is what we're waiting for them to do because we've been conditioned now to wait for them to do it as Don's just said they got West Ham and Wolves in the next two games when Everton went down to 10 men on Monday night you thought oh well

that's an easy three points for Manchester United and they conspire to end up losing so that's what leaves you're scratching your head When they still have three at the back against 10 men, Everton, you start to go, what's the manager doing here? Why is that flag still in the sand when he's planted it there and said, I will never change my system?

Surely you'd change when it's 11 v10. So you would say that Wool's beating Manchester United is far-fetched, isn't it? You would say that, but there's just that little alarm bell ringing in your head saying if Wool's going to get their first win of the season, you wouldn't say it would be like this monumental, shock if it came against Manchester

I did. That's the damage they've done to their reputation. They are perceived as a kind of calamity waiting to happen. But having said all that, they weren't today. They weren't and I agree with you, Rick. They would have folded. They would have folded there. Even a few months ago, they would have folded

there. And they didn't, and they found a way to win, and you have to take your hats off to them. No, we already knew, I think, that Oliver Glasner is not best pleased with the spending that he saw from from Crystal Palace in the summer. He was talking about it again after the game today. He says that they threw away the chance to play an even better season in the summer.

I mean, they made six permanent signs, one loan, but he obviously wanted more and didn't get them. And, you know, what was he said? He said, he's like, if you play European football for the first time in your history, you should invest and not save. And he feels like January is too late to add. Do you have sympathy for that position, Don? I do. I'd question why he's come out

unless he's just really honest. I don't know why he'd fire that shot at Steve Parrish or the owners. He's said it a few times now, hasn't he? I think we... Yeah. I can speculate why. But then you're very prepared for losing

a couple of players, maybe he's in Jan. So it's going to upset him even more, especially if Liverpool go there in Take Mark Gehie off him or someone goes for Adam Wharton in the summer. It's a manager who's... very deliberately and Crystal Palace fans will not like me saying this

but it's how I perceive it and assess it when a manager starts complaining about decisions made by the board it's a little nudge nudge he's weighing up his options isn't he? Yeah I'm afraid so

and when he's as Rick you said he's sort of done it repeatedly as well and Crystal Palace good team flying high he's one of their first trophy they're in Europe they're doing well this season again defying

all those gloomy preseason predictions when they lost their big players in the summer the fact he keeps doing it it is like he's just making sure everybody's aware of the fact he's not happy and if you were to maybe offer him a new challenge he wouldn't necessarily say no

whilst also being massively committed Crystal Palace and very happy there if you ever asked him by the thing is it is not going badly there they're not going badly at all two points off two points off fifth league cup I don't think it's helpful Don's right.

I don't think it's helpful. I don't know why he's done that today. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. It's not helpful to them. And I don't, unless the manager is playing a long game there, which I think he probably is, it's not helpful for the team or the players or the supporters or the board.

So, yeah, it's quite a combustible, shall I say, thing to keep saying in public. Let's have a quick chat about Newcastle. First Premier League away win for seven months. gave Everton a right old going over, beat them 4-1. It clicked away from home. Finally, Luke. Yeah, that's the blueprint that they've been trying to get to work, really,

solid at the back, sit back, but then have lightning fast counterattacks. And the key to unlocking it all is Lewis Hall and Tino Livermento back at fullbacks. Brilliant young, English attacking fullbacks. Great at both ends of the pitch. Both moving into midfield to create overloads or going beyond the winger. I was going to say I'm going basically into attack almost. Yeah, they've got engines that get them up and down the pitch.

It has transformed the way that Newcastle can play. They beat Manchester City, obviously, with those two back in the team as well. The previous weekend, yeah, it just looked like a completely different Newcastle and it felt like something clicked, yeah. That is the word, and you put pace around Volta Mada, who hasn't got any, by the way, but he is great at doing what he does. It's got some catalogue of goals, by the way. It's got some catalogue of goals, yeah.

I think it might be my favourite one. yeah I think it is my favourite one but yeah just a brilliant brilliant team performance ideal away performance it made a mockery the fact that I think they've gone seven months

waiting for an away win in the league and they were so good and David Moyes in one of the great just honest assessments after the game said yeah there were loads better than us

just loads better than us and that is what it felt like on the day I don't know what Don was punching the air when you were talking about it watched the game live last night I agree I agree with you I think the way Lewis Hall

and Tino play as fallbacks, high energy, really quick. It allows Newcastle getting higher up the pitch but have been really defensive and losing loads of territory. I think Lewis Hall of he stays fit. He could push for a World Cup spot. I thought Anthony Langa easily had his best game last night.

That's the Anthony Langer. I've been waiting to see. I thought he's magnificent. And that's for one or two players like Anthony Gordon and Tanali on the bench. So as a way wins go, it was nigh on perfect. And Malik Chow, by the way, I've commentated on them a lot of times for A.C. Milan, and I saw the sort of, I saw the prospect in him.

I didn't see him being this good. For 35 million, what a player. What a player. I think that's probably all we got time for, but it feels a shame not to mention Thomas Frank's home for. Any of going to say on Thomas Frank? I've got a lot to say on Thomas Frank. Can I just say very quickly, everything's been lost on that Harry Wilson goal yesterday. watching that live, I went, that's one of the best goals I've ever seen.

It's the fact that he's not, he's just sort of facing the wrong way, basically. It's a, yeah, it's a great guy. I mean, I don't know what Vicario is doing. I also don't know what any of the Spurs' defenders are doing, but it's a sensation of good finish, isn't it? Amazing God. I want to stick up to Thomas Frank very, very quickly.

We've got to get out of this cycle of football supporters and football media of calling for managers to go. He's been in that job four months of a season, right? just give him a little bit of time. No, I know you're not, but we're talking about pressure on him and the chance that he could go and all this sort of stuff. It is a narrative that's building up around that he's been in the job four months.

They've got 18 points. They're level on points for Newcastle. They're three points behind Liverpool and Manchester United. They've not had a disastrous, terrible start to the season. Yes, they're hopeless. And I know that's really annoying. I know that's really annoying. But just cut him a little bit of slack.

Let's not make Toplin the new crisis club just yet. Underneath it all, you are a sweetheart, Luke. Yeah, you've said that to me before, privately and never publicly before, but bless you. Yes, I am. That's true, that's true. All right, let's wrap it out. Thanks very much, Don. Thanks, Luke.

My pleasure. That is all we got time for on the Premier League review this Sunday. The Monday night club will be your next episode of the Football Daily. This winter, cricket's oldest rivalry is reignited. England and Australia do battle to compete for the ashes. That is extraordinary. Here live, ball by ball commentary on five sports extra. And get analysis and reaction of every day's play with the Test Match Special podcast.

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