Football Daily - The Debrief: Saka’s back and Forest stay third

Episode Date: April 1, 2025

Kelly Cates is alongside senior football reporter Ian Dennis, former Brighton and Crystal Palace striker Glenn Murray and former Nottingham Forest midfielder Andy Reid to bring reaction from a night of Premier League action. Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta joins the pod as Bukayo Saka scores seven minutes after returning to playing for Arsenal, having had 101 days out injured. You’ll also hear from Saka’s teammate Gabriel Martinelli as Arsenal move to nine points behind league-leaders Liverpool, after beating Fulham. Also, Nuno Espirito Santo joins the Football Daily after his side remain third in the table having beaten Manchester United to keep their hopes of Champions League football next season alive. Meanwhile, Wolves beat West Ham 1-0 at home to put them 12 points clear of the drop zone - Vitor Pereira tells us how he’s turned things around at the club. And the guys look ahead to Wednesday’s Merseyside derby. Timecodes: 01:00 – Arsenal section. 04:00 - Gabriel Martinelli interview 09:20 – Mikel Arteta reaction to the win. 14:37 – Forest v Man United chat. 16:50 – Nuno Espírito Santo interview. 22:20 – Ruben Amorim reaction. 23:23 – Wolves v West Ham section. 25:30 – Vitor Pereira interview. 27:30 – Merseyside derby preview. Commentaries: Wednesday 2nd April PREMIER LEAGUE: Liverpool v Everton. PREMIER LEAGUE: Newcastle v Brentford. PREMIER LEAGUE: Bournemouth v Ipswich.Friday 4th April WOMENS NATIONS LEAGUE: England v Belgium. WOMENS NATONS LEAGUE: Wales v Denmark.Saturday 5th April PREMIER LEAGUE: Crystal Palace v Brighton. PREMIER LEAGUE: Aston Villa v Nottingham Forest.Sunday 6th April PREMIER LEAGUE: Fulham v Liverpool. PREMIER LEAGUE: Brentford v Chelsea. PREMIER LEAGUE: Spurs v Southampton. PREMIER LEAGUE: Manchester United v Manchester City.

BBC Sounds music radio podcasts. On the Football Daily Podcast, the debrief with Kelly Kitts. Listen on BBC Sounds. Three results in the Premier League and their significant ones. Arsenal beat Fulham by two goals to one. They are now nine points behind Liverpool. Nottingham Forest, one nil winners at home to Manchester United. They stay third, but they've extended their lead over the teams below them and look very comfortably in those Champions League places. Wolves beat West Ham by a goal to nil.

Wolves are now 12 points clear of the relegation zone. With me, senior football reporter Ian Dennis, former Brighton and Crystal Palace striker Glenn Murray there at the Emirates, Nottingham Forest midfielder Andy Reid is at the city ground but we'll start with that big win for Arsenal, 2-1 victory against Fulham. Dan O, give us your match highlights. Well Fulham provided a late scare Kelly, I think it's probably best described as a bitter sweet night for Arsenal because Bukayo Saka made a goal scoring return within seven minutes as a substitute after three months out injured but then there are injury concerns over Gabriel

who left the field after 16 minutes looked like a hamstring injury and then Timber in the second half of course in a week's time Real Madrid come here for the Champions League quarterfinal first leg. Moreno's deflected goal gave Arsenal a 37th minute lead and when Sacka headed a second with just 17 minutes left, it looked like they were cruising. But Moniz reduced the areas deep into injury time, too little too late for Fulham as their record winless streak at Arsenal is extended to 32 league matches. Glenn Murray alongside Ian Dennis. Glenn, your thoughts on the game, It was a great game. It was a great game. It was a great game. It was a great game.

It was a great game. It was a great game. It was a great game. It was a great game. It was a great game. It was a great game. It was a great game. It was a great game. It was a great game. The tempo went up a little bit in the stadium and the introduction of Saka brought a bit more quality and obviously it was written in the stars that he was going to be the one to score tonight and put

them turning it up and from that point on they sat in a little bit Kelly and they invited Fulham onto them who duly replied and obviously they had a couple of opportunities Munoz nodded one wide from six yards out, Sessillon put one right down, David Reyes threw it from six yards out. Sessiun put one right down. David Reiers threw it from six yards out and then eventually Munoz got one in. It was via deflection as well but for the last two minutes he was a little bit nervy, Arsenal soaring out. They'd done enough and it keeps the title race alive. Yes, it does with a Merseyside derby to come on Wednesday night, commentary of which is on Five Live Sport. As Den-O said, it was something of a mixed bag for Arsenal, Glenn.

Let's talk about the good stuff as far as Arsenal fans are concerned. Bukai Osaka on the bench came off it to score. He got a standing evasion just for warming up but also significantly with big Champions League games to come. He got 25 minutes of football. He did and we think he came through unscathed, which is massive, especially after he's been out for so long. He just brings a different energy to the team, he brings a different dimension to them, he makes players better around him, he makes them tick, every time he gets to the ball there's an anticipation

around the stadium and obviously he just knows where to be and what to do, he just kind of drifted into the fire post there and the ball miraculously found its way to him from a little flick from Martinelli in the middle of the goal. It just brings something special to Arsenal, he's one of their own, the introduction he got and the sort of the reception he got was extra special. It was really special for him. Glenn, we're just going to pause for a second because George Cummins is at the Emirates. Thanks Kelly, I'm with Gabriel Martinelli. Gabriel, 2-1, what did you make of it? A little

bit nervous at the end but well done on getting the win. Yeah, thank you. I think we deserved the win. Of course, as you said, we suffered a bit in the end. I don't think we needed to suffer to suffer that goal. We conceded the goal but we managed to win the game and that's the most important thing. What did you make of the return of your team-mate Bukai Osaka? He had a good impact didn't he when he came on at the stadium, just come to life after that? Yes, of course. We know how good he is and how important he is for our team. He's one of the captains as well. We trust him so much and we're really happy for him. It's good

to have him back and we like to have him. What's it like when you get an injury in your outfit for so long? You're just sitting on the sidelines watching your teammates? Yeah, it's not really good. We prefer to be on the pitch playing and help the team. I think we need to try to improve things when we get injured. I think B did it and we're happy to have him back. It's the story of Arsenal's season though, isn't it? There are so many injuries in this team.

Can you put your finger on it? I know you picked up another one tonight with your teammate, Gabriel Magalhães. It seems like you get one player back and then you lose another one. Yeah, it's not good for us, a player like Gabi. But it is what it is. We have to see what happens with him and see if he's going to be available for the next game. And if he's not, we're going to try to adapt. And yeah, we know how good we are,

and we are going to try to win the games even though he's injured. Exciting season's coming. You've got Real Madrid here next Tuesday, you're still pushing Liverpool for the title, a lot of things to come despite this depletion of numbers. Of course we are going to try to win the Premier League as well, we have a big one coming up against Madrid also, we are going to try to win the games and try to win something, a title. back onto the pitch, 65 minutes, got the goal, got the involvement and got the crowd going. That just promises so much for the end of Arsenal season, which isn't just about the Premier League title race, but also about Champions League football.

Yeah, absolutely. They'll be delighted to see him back in. He's an incredible talent. You know, I think when you go up against them and you know, you speak to defenders who play against him and you say, show him outside on his right foot. and then it's easier said than done because he can get back in because of the way he moves his hips, the way he moves the ball really really well he's so difficult to defend against. If you do show him outside he'll take the outside and he's got the pace to do it. An incredible talent and somebody Arsenal would be delighted

to have back in there because look you mention that, probably, I mean, for me, I think the title's over. That's just my opinion on it. I can see them catching Liverpool, but there's still plenty to play for in the Champions League, and to have him back is huge for Arsenal. Yeah, quarter-final to come against Real Madrid, but if early indications are correct, Glenn Murray,

it looks as though they might have to do that without Gabriel. For him, I think it was 16 minutes he limped off and in that phase of play a ball was played through and he tried to get across with his injury and he couldn't really open his legs up he couldn't really gain any momentum and it didn't look good and I know at that point he was probably protecting himself knowing in mind what's coming, but early thoughts are he won't be available for that Madrid game. I've been multitasking, Kelly.

A grade one hamstring injury, a mild stroke, Paul, two to five days. Grade two partial tear, up to a month. Grade three is a complete tear. You're looking at months out. So that's just a rough, broad stroke of a quick assessment of a hamstring injury. Dr. Denno. Dr. Google it sounds like. You're right, very much Dr. Google.

But look, it does give an indication as you say, in terms of the severity of the injury, and they'll be assessing that, the club's doctors will be assessing that and looking to get him back. They don't need to Kelly, Deno's done it. Yeah well that's it, he's diagnosed and probably has a treatment plan for him as well if he's gone to chat GPT as well. Look as far as the injuries are concerned, there was the concern or there is the concern, it's very real about Gabrielle, there was also a bit of a wobble as well Glenn about Urien Timber who went down in the first half and then went down again in the second half and had to be replaced.

Yeah, he went down in the first half. We kind of thought that was a coming together. It was something wrong with his knee. We thought it was a contact injury. He looked a little bit ginger for five minutes but then he finished the first half no problem and he played most of the second half without us really noticing that there was an issue at all. And then he went down towards the end and at that point I think Michael Arteta thought, you know what, I just want to get him off the field of play. I think it was precaution more than anything, Kelly. The Arsenal manager, Michael Arteta joins the pod now.

He was speaking to George Cummins in the tunnel. Thanks Kelly. Yeah, Michael's with us now. Michael, you can't help but smile, can you? Everyone would have smiled apart from a full-on fan. Bukayo Saka, what a return after three months out. Yeah, it was a great moment. I think everybody reacted to him, showing him that level of love, respect, admiration. It was beautiful to watch. And the reason for it is because

how Bukayo is as a person especially. I mean the reaction he had yesterday away after scoring to go to the physio sports science guys to say thank you you know for everything that they've done for him in the last four months. He shows the person so it's impossible not to love him. How hard has it been for him you know watching on the sidelines, watching his teammates? It must be tough when you're out for three months, it's such a long part part of season. It's been very tough for everybody because we are here to win at the end and you know what it takes to win the Premier League to win a Champions League and you need your best players on the pitch constantly you know

and to miss four big players for three four months it's been extremely tough but the fact that he's been connected he's been trying to help the rest of the players it makes him that when he needs to come back, he's in good condition. What did you say to him when he came on? You whispered him something. Can you reveal what that was? Yeah, that's to stay focused on what he needs to do on the pitch, because as well, it's a lot every time you take the ball to play emotionally with that feeling. So stick to what you have to do and focus on those actions.

The wind's come at a cost, though, I understand. Gabriel Magalha, that's a hamstring injury? He felt something. He's not quite sure how bad it is. The fight that he could not continue is not a good sign, obviously. But we have to adapt. Jorani was the same. We lost Ben yesterday. Unfortunately, it's been the narrative throughout the season. So let's keep working and see how he is.

There's been a lot of hamstring injuries at Arsenal this season, but there's also been a lot of hamstring injuries in the Premier League. What do you put that down to? I don't know. We have to investigate a lot because Gabi only had one incident I think since he was with us and he didn't play the second with the national team. So we had a period where you would say that we offload him and you want to recover him. So it's very difficult to put something very specific to give you the right reason. All these problems, still exciting season to come, Real Madrid next Tuesday and you're still putting pressure on Liverpool?

That's what we have to do and be there and we'll be there for eight and a half months now and we're going to continue to go. So, very excited about the next few days. Thanks, Adjola. Some fire at the line. Thank you. Great start to an exciting few days to come for Arsenal with that 2-1 win against Fulham, closing the gap to Liverpool to nine points. Glenn, just a word on the title race. I know you and Andy said that he thinks that the title race is pretty much done even though the gap at the moment is nine points there is still a Merseyside derby to come on Wednesday night but is it as

important to keep the momentum up for Arsenal because they will have their eyes on those big Champions League games against Real Madrid coming up so is that as important as keeping the gap in a kind of manageable distance to Liverpool at the top of the table? It is indeed, yeah. They want as much momentum going into that fixture, into those fixtures against Real Madrid. I think Saka being back, obviously you can dwell on the negatives or you can lean into the positives. Yes, it looks like they're going to be without Gabriel, but their main man's back, their creator's back, he makes those around him better. They released news that they're going to spend money in the summer.

There's just a little bit more of a feel-good factor around Arsenal leading into those huge games. And they're season-defining games. If they get through that quarterfinal, then you're only two games away from the final, and it could be a historic year, and all of of a sudden no-one's talking about the Premier League, about coming runners up in the Premier League and maybe missing your opportunity when Manchester City faltered and kind of letting Liverpool slip in the back door.

It's all about the Champions League. So there's still loads to play for here at Arsenal and also I think with that news of the money and the funds to be spent in the off season it's a positive into the new season. And it could yet be a positive season for Fulham despite Marco Silva looking incredibly frustrated on the touchline for them this evening. They're in eighth place on 45 points. They are three points off Manchester City in fifth although they have played a game more than City and there is still a very good chance that Fulham could be playing some form of European football come next season. I'm Aaron Paul.

And I'm Jovi Makenach. And on Wednesdays on the Football Daily we bring you 72 Plus, the home of the EFL from Five Life Sport. As we'll get stuck into the latest from the Football League and beyond. I can't put a finger on why we weren't as energetic as we usually are. What they've got there is genuinely good people that really care about that football club and the fans have been huge in terms of the backing that they've given to this group. That's 72 Plus, the EFL podcast only on the Football Daily.

Listen on BBC Sounds. On the Football Daily podcast, the debrief with Kelly Kitts. Listen on BBC Sounds. Andy Reid, you were at the city ground watching Nottingham Forest take on Manchester United. We're talking about the Champions League and that is looking incredibly positive for Nottingham Forest and what a goal to win it for Anthony Alanga. Yeah I mean the goal was incredible it really was and you just see where he gets it breaks from a

corner he gets it probably 10-15 yards outside his own box and he just opens up them legs he's so quick his athletic ability is incredible he steps away he's strong as well he pushes Garnacho off and then the Man United defenders then they keep backing off and they let him come on. Morgan gives waiters on the outside, he doesn't take him because he doesn't need it and he slots it home with his left foot. I mean it was a brilliant, brilliant goal. I think we've seen a replay on the screen in front of us here and I think it says he travelled 85 metres with the ball and nobody could catch him. A really, really incredible goal and I felt for me he was the best player on the pitch. He was the most dangerous. Every time he got on it the crowd got to the edge of the sea.

He was ghosting past players and it's incredible to think that Man United sold him for £12 million. You know, you look at how toothless at times the Man United attacking line was and the fact that they had to bring Harry Maguire on in the forward areas and to say that they let him go for 12 million, it's absolutely incredible. It's an incredible piece of business by Forrest because as I said he was the best player on the pitch tonight. But it's also where Manchester United have been so vulnerable. That's seven goals conceded from fast breaks in the Premier League this season. That's the joint highest of any team in the competition.

So we know that Manchester United are vulnerable there. And again, you could criticize the United defence. Well, I think for me it's athleticism. I think at times Manchester United lack athleticism, especially in the middle area at the pitch. They struggle to keep up with people. They kind of lunge in a little bit late. They pick up a lot of bookings.

And then a lot of teams then can break at that back line. So I think that that's a problem. I think also organization is a problem. I don't see too many real leaders on the pitch who are organizing, who are pulling people in. And they suffered the consequences of lack of organization from their own corner and for me lack of athleticism. They couldn't get back, they couldn't live with the pace

of Anthony Alanga in that moment. Here's the Nottingham Forest manager, Nuno Espirito Santo with Mike Meine. Nuno, one word, happy, proud. Yeah, proud, proud. You have to realise how the game went. Let's start with the goal because that was some run, some finish, some player. Huge for us, magnificent, special player that we have in Anthony that has this ability and pace to drive the ball. I think he ran all the pitch by himself, so credit to him. 85 metres in nine seconds, I'm told.

Wow! Yes! You gonna take him on in a race anytime soon? No, no, no, let him play football. But that is such a key part of your game isn't it and the execution tonight you had to be solid defensively at times but you tried to punish them on the counter-attack and you did. Yeah, look the first half we had this moment after that we didn't create anything the game went away from us, went away from us. United controlled the game, the first half we had this moment after that we didn't create anything. The game went away from us, went away from us. United controlled the game. The injury of all unbalanced, I think we had to adjust.

We did an extra body on the back line with Morato. And much, much better the second half when we adjust the midfielders and we start to control better United. We created situations, but we didn't finish the actions. So it was important, something that we have to look at. But in the end we realised how hard it was, the fatigue was there 120 minutes two days ago. Hard, many of our players, heavy legs but a lot of heart. Is that where the pride comes from, that your players went 120 minutes and a penalty shoot-out against Brighton at the weekend and then you have a tough game tonight and yet you still come out with three points?

Yeah, yeah, yeah, exactly that. Very proud, very proud and thankful, thankful and this is the spirit that the boys have and we must insist and keep it. I know I'm gonna ask it and I know you're gonna play it down. You're at 12 points off 6th tonight, you've created that gap. You're so close. You're eight games from the Champions League. No, we are. We are today. Happy tomorrow. We're going to recover well. We have a tough one against Jula. You know, we're not going to change this day by day, game by game. Andy Reid, we were talking about Nottingham Forest not wanting to get too carried away,

not wanting to suggest that they're comfortable in that position despite being nine points clear of fifth. Yeah, I mean there's still a long way to go. There's a lot of points to be played for. There's a lot of good teams who have kind of been here season after season. You know, they've experienced it before. So, you know, there's a lot of, there's still a lot of work to do for Forrest and, you know, the kind of noises that I kind of get around the training ground and in and around the stadium. that I kind of get around the training ground and in and around the stadium and I know it sounds a little bit cliché and maybe not

very exciting to say but it very much is kind of one game at a time and if you do take your eye off the next game and you don't prepare properly and you're looking forward to a semi-final that's coming up in the FA Cup or you're looking forward to a game, two games down the line, you really take your eye off the ball and in the Premier League anybody can hurt you. It's very much taking a game at a time and you can see that coming into the game tonight. It was a tough game tonight after playing 120 minutes against Brighton. It's a long way back from there. There's a lot of travelling, there's a lot of recovery involved and you have to get yourself ready to go really quickly. There was only one change made, but I think Nuno made some really good changes in game tonight.

He replaced the players at the right time and gave Forrest a real good platform to go on and hold out and get the three points, which is a massive three points. Let's not get away from that fact. Mind you, it was very nervy towards the end of that game, a late goal line clearance from Mur fact. Mind you it was very nervy towards the end of that game a late goal line clearance from Marillo. Forrest are playing Champions League football next season it's going to be so much easier to be able to keep hold of their their star players in a way that you know they've made so many changes to the the playing personnel Forrest over the the past few summers. Yeah you know if you think back to the to the squad that got promoted, you know, three years ago, it's incredible the turnover in players and you know

when Forrest kind of went into the pre-season, the first pre-season when they got promoted, there were six senior players and probably only three or four of them the club really wanted to keep so it had to be a big turnover in players and there had to be a lot turnover in players, there had to be a lot of you know, incomings and that's happened and the squad has evolved really nicely. I think the recruitment over the last probably two years has been very, very well taught through. Some of the sign-ins that have been made have been brilliant, some real value for money in there. You know, there's been able to be some that have been moved

out that haven't quite worked out and that's absolutely fine as well. And I think the squad is in a really strong position. So to get into the Champions League and being able to hold on to your top players is obviously massive. But also the income that it generates and being able to invest again, because the owner at this football club, he's very, very ambitious. He, you know, he wants to have really really top level success he's prepared to put his money where his mouth is but with the

financial fair play you have to be able to back it up with the income ins as well so so so it's going to be very interesting to see where this journey takes but so exciting for the Forrest fans who for so many years have had it really really tough there they can enjoy it and they're proud to come and and support the team and they're proud of the performances that they put on out on the pitch. Andy, as you said, a really good night for Nottingham Forest, not so for Manchester United. Ruben Amorim is with Mike Meyne. Ruben, tough tonight, do you feel your side should have got something?

I think that is clear, but we have to think about the goal that we suffer. We know that Nottingham is really good on transitions, can score goals from nothing through our wins. We are suffering the first goal, we put Nottingham in a position that they want, defending with a lot of men and making transitions. During the game I felt a little bit lacking in quality in the final third and that is really important in the team when we need to win games. If you look especially in the end I think we deserve more. How frustrated are you defensively that they allowed Antonio Lange to run at your defence and then ultimately score? We have men to block, we have Old Pitch to run, to make a foul and we have to be better

and smart in these moments. And then at the other end you were talking right at the end you threw everything at it including putting Harry Maguire up front to find the goal. If you look at the game especially in the final 15 minutes they were defending the box with six men so we need more men inside the box we we cannot get inside the box with combinations. And then Harry Maguire is really strong when set pieces are in the opposite box, and when you are playing in the opposite box you are a striker, not a defender. So we look at the best guys playing inside the box and there is maybe the best guy to play inside the box.

Confidence is such a fragile thing in football, you went into the international break after that very good win over Leicester, a little bit dented tonight, you now have a big game to prepare for on Sunday. Yes, but it's more of the same since this season began. If you look at the game we are improving the way we play football, we are creating more chances, we are dominating more games. But in the end when you you don't win, you feel that. And that is a good thing. So we know that this season is going to be like that. You win momentum, you lose the momentum. So we continue to go to the next match.

Manchester Derby to come this weekend for Manchester United. Wolves beat West Ham 1-0 at home. That puts them 12 points clear of the relegation places. They're in 17th, West Ham are on 34 points, they're in 16th. Maz Faruqi watched the game for us. Hi Maz. Hello Kelly, yeah Vito Pereira celebrated the full-time whistle here like he started reaching a Wembley Cup final. Such was the importance of this win. As you say, 12 points clear now with the bottom three with their next match at Portmanteau Road to come at the weekend. But how's your luck if you're Max Kilman? The former Wolves captain back here at Mollenew tonight, the player Jürgen Strand Larsen's strike took a deflection off for the only goal of the match in the first half. Wolves though should have been two up before half time as well. That goal

sparking a period of dominance that they should have capitalized on. They hit the crossbar because it was a much better performance from West Ham in the second half. Nicholas Fulcroog on at half time as he returns from his long term injury, hitting the woodwork with a header and another sub Thomas Socek somehow putting wide of the near post in second half stoppage time but Wolves held on and the fans were on their feet as well at full time just like their manager knowing how important these three points were this evening. Wolves beating West Ham by a goal to nil. Thank you, Maz. Let's get some Wolves reaction after their win. Here's Vito Pereira with Lee Blakeman.

Vito, massive congratulations. You were punching the air at full time. You've just punched the air and you've walked in here. You look delighted with that performance. Yes, it was fantastic. Fantastic feeling. Fantastic feeling. I feel the happiness in the supporters.

I feel my team committed playing as a team. First half, high quality. We deserve to go in half time with 2-0, in my opinion. Second half, you know, we need points. We start to think about the points and the moments moments that we need to suffer we suffer together, but this is the team This is a thing back to back league wins for the first time this calendar year What's changed over the last few weeks for you? No, I think this in my opinion You know the players they

When we come to a club we try to sell an idea and a model game a way to play a way to build our play and They bought this this idea from the the first day and this is very very very important and You know, I'm I'm an emotional guy with passion for my work. And you can feel this passion. I tell you what, Kelly, that's a great effort

from Vito Pereira. When you think back, he took over in what, the 19th of December? And you look at his records then, they had that back-to-back wins against Leicester and Manchester United around Christmas time and then got a draw with Tottenham. Back-to-back victories down at the bottom of the table are absolutely pivotal and here either side of the international break he's got the victory against South Hampton he's followed that up now with a win against West Ham United and you look at the bottom and it just looks bleak now for Ipswich, Leicester and South

Hampton because Wolves are 12 points clear of the bottom three who look like they're now going to make that immediate return back to the championship. On Wednesday we've got commentary of the Merseyside Derby. It's Liverpool against Everton at Anfield. Kick-off is at eight o'clock. Trent Alexander Arnold as we know out of contract at the end of the season. But a lot of speculation about his future for months. BBC Sport understands he is in advanced talks with Real Madrid over a free transfer in the summer but is still trying to get back to fitness and may not feature in that game against Everton. Really interesting quirk Andy for Everton is that over the next three matchdays they play Liverpool at Anfield, Arsenal at Goodison and then Nottingham Forest at the City Ground. They've got the top three coming up

in their next three games. If you're Liverpool and Arsenal have just closed the gap on you to nine points, is a derby a game that you want because it keeps the the energy levels up or is it the last game you want? I don't think it's one that you're because it keeps the energy levels up or is it the last game you want? I don't think it's one that you're particularly looking forward to and you know the tough games you know the derby games are always tight and all Liverpool generally get the upper hand on them because you know they're a better team at the end of the day but Everton will make it difficult for them it's's a tough period. I mean, that's a tough run of games for Everton. And, you know, they're not, you know, I think they're comfortable.

They'll be all right because the bottom three are, you know, have not got sufficient points to really challenge to kind of stay up. But it's a tough run of games. And but, you know, they picked up when David Moyes come in. And I think he's done some really good things there. I think he's really kind of shored them up. They've obviously, the players have responded to a bit of a fresh voice and you know, he'll want to go in. He's got some good wins under his belt as Everton manager in the derby.

So it'll be interesting to see how he sets up and see how they go about it. And I'm sure they'll make it really difficult for Liverpool. Deno, David Moyes never won as a manager at Anfield in 21 attempts but as Andy said, he's really picked that team up since he's come in. So what chance that in this return to Everton, this is the one that he gets the win in? This is the one that he eventually ends that unwanted record, although actually when you look at it from his Everton time, he's drawn six of his 11 games as an Everton manager at Anfield. And I just wonder as well with Andy's coaching hat on,

you know that there's sort of like that acrimonious feel or the end to the game at Goodison, do Everton then sort of like try and tap into that to try and unsettle Liverpool again at Anfield? They've only lost once in the Premier League all season at Anfield and that was against Forrest, but do Everton try and unsettle Liverpool again at Anfield. They've only lost once in the Premier League all season at Anfield and that was against Forrest but do Everton try and tap into that to try and get into Liverpool's psyche? Yeah absolutely I think they have to you know when you come play against these top teams who have so much ability, physical ability, technical ability and Liverpool are the

best in the league. For me they're the best team that I've seen in the league this season. They play the best football, they really go on the front four. Everton have to find a way to disrupt that. They will be tapping into some of that energy and they'll be using some of that to G themselves up. They'll be really looking at upsetting them and not letting any flow to the game. Seeing if they can get some set pieces that they can maybe apply a bit of pressure. They'll be putting the ball in the box from deep. But imagine probably even halfway in their own half if they get a free kick, Pickford will be coming out and he'll be putting it

in the Liverpool 18-yard box to try and make it difficult for them. They're all the things that they're going to have to do. They're going to have to get a bit of luck if they're going to get anything out of the game, as anybody who goes to Anfield will need a bit of luck. Andy, thank you very much for your company this evening, thank you to Andy Reid, thank you to Ian Dennis, thank you to Glenn Murray and that's all for this episode of the Football Daily. The next one will be the debrief with Steve Crossman with reaction to the Merseyside Derby and Wednesday's five other Premier League games. From us though, thanks for listening.

League games. From us though, that's for listening. The new series of Match of the Day Top 10 is out now, only available on BBC Sounds. Join myself, Garell Inneke, Alan Shearer, Micah Richards and my dog as we dig into the Top 10 of the Champions League. We go through our favourite goalscorers, best moment and even our all-time 11th. Now that, gentlemen, is a list. No, well, he didn't get on the list. Correct. He didn't get on the reserve list. You can listen right now on BBC Sounds.