Football Daily - UCL Debrief: Liverpool lose in Istanbul

Episode Date: September 30, 2025

Kelly Cates presents reaction to Liverpool's 1-0 loss to Galatasaray in the Champions League. Andros Townsend, Pat Nevin and 5 Live commentator Ian Dennis reflect on the match and on Liverpool's problems going forward, before we hear from Liverpool manager Arne Slot.We also hear from former England goalkeeper Paul Robinson who watched Chelsea beat Jose Mourinho's Benfica at Stamford Bridge.Spurs came back from 2-0 down to draw 2-2 away to Bodo/Glimt, and we also look ahead to tomorrow's Champions League action, where Monaco host Manchester City at 8pm.Timecodes: 00:12 Reaction to Galatasaray 1-0 Liverpool 17:13 Arne Slot press conference 18:32 Paul Robinson on Chelsea 1-0 Benfica 21:33 Spurs pull it back against Bodo/Glimt 22:51 John Bennett on the biggest stories elsewhere 24:09 Pep Guardiola speak ahead of Monaco 25:40 Conor McNamara & Chris Sutton look ahead to Monaco v Man City5 Live / BBC Sounds UEFA Champions League commentaries: Wed 1 Oct 1745 Union Saint-Gilloise v Newcastle on Sports Extra, Wed 1 Oct 2000 Monaco v Man City.

On the Football Daily podcast, Champions League debrief with Kelly Cates. They're celebrating in Istanbul as Galatasaray held on to beat Liverpool. So Victor Osman, who comes up against Allison. When he was playing for Napoli three years ago, Allison saved the penalty in Naples. Ossarman now stuttering run up. He scores this time, right-footed and basick penalty. And Galatasaray. as the noise will tell you here in Istanbul,

our leading Liverpool by a goal to nil, Mitch Arsman, with his third goal of the season. And that first half penalty was the only goal of the game. It was a 1-0 victory for Galatasarai with us. Our commentary team in Istanbul, Pat Nevin and Ian Dennis, former England winger Andrew Townsend, joins us as well. And Dennett just talked me through that game. Was it a game that Galatasarai created?

enough themselves? Was it a game in which their opportunities were gifted to them by Liverpool? Well, I've got to say first and foremost, Kelly, as the celebrations are still going on here in Istanbul, it was played to a backdrop of a constant cacophony of noise. And certainly the supporters played their part, but they've just witnessed a famous win for their side, who registered a record-breaking start to their domestic form, but have ended their longest-ever winless run in this competition. competition without a win in eight games in their last seven years and how they played they caused Liverpool the number of problems in the in the first half but they were punished really for Sir Bosla is a hand in the face to Yilmas in the

first half that gave them a penalty just past a quarter of an hour and Osseman converted that penalty right through the middle emphatic right footed Alison died to his right awesome and almost caught Allison out with a chip what I'd say though is that Liverpool created a couple of opportunities Jacobs had a goal line clearance from Gatpo and Vertz made an excellent save from Verst's half folly instinctive effort but Liverpool in the second half didn't really create too many opportunities Bradley had a head of wide they had a late penalty overruled through VAR but the other thing that struck me was the work rate of the Galatasarai players that prevented Liverpool from

creating opportunities they only had three shots on target and in the second half whilst Osterman made, of course, problems and Yilmas did. In the second period, they worked extremely hard off the ball to limit Liverpool to clerk on opportunities. Do you know what, Kelly, I'd add one thing on top of it as well. At halftime, Andros was saying about Liverpool getting caught with the press and not playing it out well. And being a little bit slow in moving,

you're thinking, well, that won't happen again. It did. It did three or four times. Osman quite easily could have scored two goals. And there were other opportunities where they could have flicked the ball through because of Liverpool's sloppiness in an area where they very rarely are.

Should answer to your question, Kelly? Yes, they were handed opportunities. They didn't take them off, but they were handed many opportunities and it could have been worse than 1-0 because of that and it is so un-liberpool. Pat, we will get into where things are going wrong tactically or individually on the pitch

for Liverpool in the last couple of games against Crystal Palace and in this defeat against Galatasaray and at times in the games that they've won earlier in the season as well. But when Denno described the intensity of Galatasarai, if you're going to be beaten by a team who is more intense than you that works harder than you, is that failing at the first hurdle almost? It's the easiest thing in the world to say, oh, you should be up for it and do it. The questions that are asked of English teams at the Premier League, are different questions from everybody else when gallantzor i haven't lost the game they've won every

single game in their own nascent league table so far and probably at a cancer in most of them right the liverville get a cancer no they do not not in any single game and it doesn't matter if it's you know arsenal if it's mansite or if it's crystal palace or anyone you there's no three passes in the premier league so you don't get to go and play at that pace all the time every game because no one can play 100% all the time every three days. So they try and calm it down, they try and slow it down, they try and play within themselves

and control a game to a certain way. Problem is Gallatin, I said, right, we're having none of it today. They say, no, no, we're going to play at our pace, and you better get up to it. And Liverpool, to be fair, they did get up to it in the second half, particularly, as I say, in those last 20 minutes. But I wouldn't have used Liverpool for not being at that intensity.

This game tonight is the biggest game, I've had years and years, years and years. Of course they're going to give absolutely everything. Liverpool and the problem with Liverpool got with all the great teams in the world, see when anyone comes to play against them, it's their biggest day. There's Ozzyman trial with that and every other game.

Does he stuff? It's unbelievable tonight. And that's what Liverpool have to put always. So, no, they maybe weren't at the level of it in the effort that the opposition were at, but I understand it. In terms of the level of effort, Pat's saying he understands that there's going to be a difference between the importance of the game for Gallantassaray, the importance of the game for Liverpool. What about in terms of the performance itself, Andros? And there's a lot's been made about Liverpool's defence, but I want to ask you about the number of chances they're creating. When Alexander Easek came on, I think he touched the ball twice in 30-odd minutes when he came on.

there's not much a strike he can do if he's operating under those sort of circumstances so where should the creativity be coming from? Where are they falling short in the buildup? I think the problem in the second half when Sala and Isak came on

is Galatasarai closed the spaces they weren't as open as they were in the first half they were sitting in, they were protecting a 1-0 lead so it's always difficult for an attacking player to get touches in the first half I would say away from home in the champions League, I think they created more than enough to get something from that first half.

I go back to Ekateke's chance. Verts had a chance. Cody Gatpo early on, just before the penalty. Yeah, yeah. Fringpong had a couple of good crossing situations. So they created more than enough to get something from that first half. I don't think creativity, especially in that first half, was an issue away from home in the Champions League.

So then we're looking, Pat, at that Liverpool defence. clean sheets in their first 10 games, six clean sheets in their first 10 last season. There's been a lot of change at Liverpool over the summer, but they've had a few games to get used to each other now. But a lot of those changes have happened in defence and you've, you know, they've changed both fullbacks. What are your thoughts on, on how that's affected Liverpool's ability to defend? I can have slightly, the Kerkes is going to fly forward, right? There's going to be a gap there. anyway, a lot of the time. I wouldn't have a word said against Bradley

and absolutely no complaints against him and he's a natural fullback. But suppose I, the word, a lot of difficult moments and he's not, yes he can play that position, but he's in an actual out and out fullback. And again, Andros is sitting the other side of the line here. The best thing you

feel is a wide player, oh, is there a centreback or a centred midfield player coming back to Markme? Hallelujah, that's what I want, you know, because he's not a specialist. It's a very specialist position so he had difficult moments but I'll be honest we had two things were obvious. The Kinati

and Van Dyke, the understanding between them wasn't great to do and they looked shaky and uncertain I'm always going to look at Kinati Maloney Van Dyke because Van Dyck's in control most of the time but he needs somebody who can work off of him but the other thing was see in front of them the amount of time

to players chose a couple of time verse losing the ball in very very dangerous positions that's where you never lose it top players don't lose it there and they just lost it far too many times and that was and that makes the defenders look bad doesn't it is right back though a problem for Liverpool because those stats that Kelly just mentioned that was my question to honest slot last night in the press conference about the clean sheets and he said it's not about the

fullbacks he says we're defenders a team last season we were keeping the opposition away from a penalty area a lot more of those goals who conceded four have come from set pieces but you look at the right back so boss lies played there four times now fring pong has played there four times and bradley twice in the ten games that Liverpool have played and obviously they're missing then the creativity of Alexander Arnold I'm feeling great difficulty and I don't see every single game that Liverpool play and I look forward to seeing them at Chelsea at the weekend I'll be shocked if Bradley's not starting because it's the obvious one he is a

natural fillback also he flies forward he pushed the entire team forward a little bit when he came on I think yes other players come on as well but his first movement was to go and push forward and that dragged Yulmas back and it changed the way the game's gone because there was not much outlet for Gala so they had to defend deep so

yeah Bradley maybe can't play every single game but for me and the times that I've seen Liverpool he's the most natural fullback they have but my question to you guys being at the game today I said at the top of the program is it a choice Liverpool being more open as opposed to leaky defence

because you look at their signings in the summer. Kerr-Kez is attacking left-back. Fring-Pong is a wing-back, wingar right-back. So is it on a slot trying to go more man-city-like and be more open and commit more men into the final third as opposed to keeping four players at the back? I think we have to talk not about Kevin, about worse, verse right? Because he's brought him in as a creative one, right?

And if you've got a player who comes in and costs that amount of money and he's going to create lots and lots of goals and lots and lots of chances and he's going to control the last parts of the game going forward, what you need to do is make sure you shut the door behind them, right? And you'll do that when McAllister's playing, and yeah, Gravenberg can do that as well, Chibalsh can do that as well. But when Verst isn't doing it,

and to be honest tonight, he really didn't again do it, you're thinking to yourself, well, wait a minute, what is the real play? What is the plan to change it massively? Because you kind of didn't need to do much too, because it was pretty damn good beforehand. But, you know, when you do that, and that is part of your major plan,

and that's not working just now. It may work, but it's not working just now. So I don't know if it's a bigger, wider plan of, you know, is it defenders, as it more sitting midfielders, I think it brings VIRTS in and thinks, right, okay, this will make a huge difference. Well, it's not been a huge positive difference. And I underline this word three times in one.

three times in red, yet, it still can happen for those. I just think it's probably important to put it into perspective as well. Four or five days ago, Liverpool were perfect start to the season. They got done, Crystal Palace, a defensive performance, got hit on the counterattack. And tonight they've been done in a very, very, very hostile atmosphere way at Galatasaray. So I think we need to put things into perspective a little bit as well. But I think it's also because in those performers, in which Liverpool have won the game.

Some of these issues have been apparent in those games that maybe have been kind of papered over by the fact that they've gone on to get the result. And the idea was that Liverpool were getting the results while they weren't playing well, but the performances would improve. And now we get to the end of September and we're saying, well, have the squad

got to know each other well enough, have they settled into this new style well enough to start showing signs of, of improvement and it feels i mean andros you you mentioned about the players that came into liverpool one of the players who didn't come in that they they would they clearly were very interested in was mark gayi and it looks as though canate has been an issue for liverpool this season are we see are we seeing why they would want to go after another centreback probably and when a deal falls through literally on deadline day you've no chance to get

an alternative in. They made it no secret they wanted a centre half. They pinpointed Gahey who'd been perfect for the way they play and when it fell through on deadline day you can't go to option B plan C plan D because there's no time left so they're stuck now until January but yeah I think center half position is probably the least of their their worries at the minute I think they need to get the players gelling a bit more the money they've spent the strikers, verts and players like that they need to get them to gel a bit more like we said You said it's not happening just yet for Florianverts and it doesn't look as though the performances,

the results have been there for Liverpool up to the last couple of games, but the performance is not quite there just yet. Are you seeing signs that tonight is a blip or a sign of something a bit more worrying for them? Again, it's a shame because, you know, he didn't decide all that money was going to get spent on him right. I mean, he might have wanted to go for 50 million and then he goes north of well north of 100 million. right so immediately changed and also you look the history that the goals and the effect that he had before so you are expecting quite a lot so there's a high high bar put on him it's not his fault it's just the way it is he's not come close to it yet and I don't think any Liverpool find out there would say he's come close to

yet and the other thing about it and it often say that's about if you're put in there's a number 10 you're kind of the best player you can expect it to be the best best player. So you've got to do something. You've got to create things. You've got to control parts of the game. And although I have no complaints whatsoever for his work rate, he's just not finding the right places. And there was a moment in the second half. It happened just at the end of the first half. Then it happened to start in the second half again. He got himself into a brilliant position. And he tried to play the right pass. And it was a bit tentative. And we all know, see when you're playing and you're feeling good, you zip that ball in. You don't think about it. You just zip it. You don't. There is no. concern consideration you are playing naturally he's now beginning to think about it a wee bit too much and it's a terrible sign all i need is one right good game or a couple of goals in a game and that could disappear but at the moment that's not working but i underline i again agree 100% with andros here nobody's pushing any panic buttons here nobody's saying oh well it's all going to fall apart it's not that absolutely not that but we do know one thing

the winner in a hundredth minute. Against Burnley, 95th minute. Athletical, 92nd minute. You know, it was kind of going to happen because you can't keep on doing that forever. And he's got to do something about changing it now. And I suspect that'll do you'll get back to the normal team. You'll get back to a much more settled team.

Pat, in regards to VIRTS, do you think from your vantage point at the game today, do you think there may be too many players trying to occupy the same spaces that Virch looks to occupy in like your Gapos and your Curtis Jones is Gravenbert, McAllister on the weekend as well. Do you think there's too many

of the same players all trying to get in between the lines? Yes, it is the case and you know yourself. With Liverpool when they're playing against teams that happened in the second half to down, you're wasting your time trying to find out between the lines because there's no between the lines. There's no gap there because everyone's so concertina back in that sort of

area so he can have suffered from that as well and it's it's one of those things where certain players go to certain clubs and you cannot play your game anymore i mean it's happened with so many players that have absolutely you watch is he already happening a wee bit within with arsenal because you're playing with palace and you're always running into space and playing in the break don't get that way arsenal most of the same because you're playing against a team that's you know really sat back against you so i think he's struggling to find those spaces and as you say If there's two or three players that also want to get into that space as well, well, you know, it's getting a bit busy in there.

And that's certainly one of these problems. Pat Nevin and Ian Dennis, sounds like the party's still going on in Istanbul and we'll continue until the small hours of the morning. Enjoy your evening. Thank you very much for your company. Andros, if we keep you any longer, it's going to be breakfast time in Thailand. So thank you very much for staying up for us. Lovely to talk to you, as always.

So Liverpool lost 1-0 to Galatasaray. Let's hear from their boss now. Here's on a slot. For me it was a different loss than the one we had against Palace. Because for me there was a lot more to like, especially in the first half, which was maybe different to the Palace game. And in the second half, it became harder and harder for us to create. First of all, because they were fighting with all they had. So always have the credits to them.

Second of all, because we hardly played in the second half. the ball was hardly in play from the start of your day. From the start of your day to the moment you head home join 5 live for the latest news the stories everyone's sharing and the biggest debates

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On the Football Daily podcast, Champions League debrief with Kelly Cates. Jose Marino was back at Stanford Bridge with Benfica this evening. Chelsea won by a goal to nil and we can head to Stanford Bridge. where Paul Robinson was watching this one. But I tell you what, Paul, it wasn't an easy game to keep your eyes open for. No, it wasn't a great spectacle. It wasn't a thriller.

I think, honestly, on reflection, I think the result was far more important than the performance for Chelsea tonight. I think if you'd have spoke to me straight after the game, we'd have probably highlighted a lot of the flaws. The frustration of the Chelsea fans was probably apparent as well. The changes that he made to the side, he ended up reversing those

by bringing the players that you'd have expected to start on. midway through the second half, Estevao just after the hard time interval had happened. But actually when you, 20 minutes after the game, 25 minutes after the game and you take a step back and you think, okay, he's made those changes because of the fixtures that they've had. They've had a really tough run of games. Obviously, the disappointed defeat here against Brighton, the disappointed loss at Manchester United and at Bayern Munich.

So this was a game where they had to get a result and stop those run of defeats, not counting the Lincoln game in the Carabal Cup midweek. But obviously, they were in a difficult spot, and they came up against the Jose Marino's side, who came here very, very organised. Listen, they had their chances as well on their break. They caused Chelsea problems. And Chelsea, a draw wouldn't have been an unfair result, I think, for both sides tonight.

It was scrappy at times. It wasn't a pretty performance. But like I say, reiterating, that the result tonight was far more important than anything else for Chelsea. What are Chelsea missing, then, in terms of the performance? I think glaringly obvious. an out-and-out striker number nine. Zhao Pedro, for me, has been one of the best signings.

Pedro Netto, who was outstanding tonight, actually. He caused their main threat down the right-hand side. Tyreek George played the 19-year-old, started down the middle as a centre-forward. Zhao Pedro, as we know, he's not normally an out-and-out number nine is he can play in that role, but plays off the wide and in the number 10 role. And I think there was just a little bit of fluidity missing.

It wasn't a really slick performance by Chelsea, But it was a job done. They've got players, they've got quality players. But like I say, off the bench came Gittins, Jao Pedro, Estevau. Esteval looks a real talent. I mean, we saw him in the Club World Cup in the summer, came in. And I think he's one that gets fans off the edge of the seat. And this game certainly wasn't one that got any Chelsea fans off the edge of their seat.

But I think they'll go away reasonably happy with the result and up and running in the Champions League here at home. But I think there's a lot of work. to do. But like I said, pre-show before the game started, Chelsea always seemed to be work in progress. It's the never-ending project, isn't it? It is indeed. And when will the project deliver as the question that Chelsea fans will be asking? And the question that you're asking this evening, but it was a win for them this evening. Paul, thank you very much for joining us. Paul Robinson bring us up to date with everything that happened for Chelsea. In the Arctic Circle,

Spurs came back from 2-0 down to draw 2-all with Bodo Glimbed. John Acres was watching for us. John, how did this one play out? Well, Kelly, Bodo Glimp had enough of the game and enough chances to win it, but you have to give credit to how Spurs stayed with them and stuck it out to the end, which has been something they've done this season under Thomas Frank Glimp missed a penalty in the first half after Benton Cor was clumsy at the byline. Then they took a deserved lead through Haugar, brilliant curling effort, seven minutes into the second half. He then made it two, brilliant touch and finish left-footed, but some calamitous defending in the buildup from Spurs.

And defeat then for Spurs, well, looked lightly, didn't it? They were struggling with the plastic pitch, the misplaced passes. They created very little. Glimt had been very good. Then they had a Benton goal ruled out by VAR, following a shirt pull in the build-up by Mickey Van de Venn. Vendavent. Then captaining the team for the first time gave them a lifeline with a header for 2-1. And then a scrappy own goal, 809th minute, gave them the point, Archie Gray, low cross.

It came off Gunderson, I think, the defender after the keeper had palmed it on to his leg. He was under pressure from a charleston. and Glimt should have won it, but Spurs prove that they can be far from their best and still get results. John, thank you very much for that. And keeping an eye on the rest of the games across Europe this evening was John Bennett. John, what was happening elsewhere?

Well, Athletico Madrid, to be honest, Kelly, were a joy to watch. Five-one winners against Aintrack Frankfurt. 200 up for Antoine Grisman. He scored his 200th goal for Athletico Madrid. He had a shirt ready with 200 on the backs, 200 goals in 417 games. They had a tough start to the season, Athletico Madrid.

But now it's three wins in a row, 12 goals in their last three games. Julian Alvarez, six goals in a week, six goals in three games. He scored a Penelty. Diego Simeone was watching all this from the stands after his red card against Liverpool. But Athletico Madrid were absolutely sensational. What about Bay Munich and Harry Kane, another couple of goals for him? Yeah, he's in great form. Buy Munich in wonderful form.

Paphos won, Buy Munich 5. Two goals for Harry Kane. These stats are unbelievable. 17 goals in nine games this season. 18 when you count the goals for club and country. By Munich, 38 goals in eight games. Nicholas Jackson also off the mark in this game, his first goal for Bayern Munich. Elsewhere, a 3-0 win for Inter against Slavia Prague, so two wins out of two for them. And Marseille under Roberto de Zerbi were brilliant.

4-0 win against Iax, who have lost both of their games so far. Pierre Emory, Kobayang, one of the goals. goal scorers at 36 years old. John, thank you very much for that. On 5 Live, on Wednesday night, commentary of Monaco against Manchester City from 8 o'clock. Now, having suffered an ACL tear in September 2024, which ruled him out for the rest of the season,

Pep Guadiola's told us that midfielder Rodry missed Manchester City's win against Burnley on Saturday due to having pain in his knee. He is, though, in Manchester City's travelling squad for tomorrow's match against Monaco, but Guadiola has been speaking about his, ongoing injury issues. It's different in what happened in the World Cup now.

Now it's not injured. You have a difficulty to, the week before was so demanding with the United, Napoli, especially Arsenal. And right now, if you owe me my feeling, right now it's not able to play three games a week at top, top, top level. Top intensity and demanding of the opponents. My feeling right now is not ready.

Because need time. need time. So lingoes for this up was in just minimum one year and after that it started to be. And that's why it's be patient and heat dictate. When I feel not good, it's better rest. Nico make an incredible game, last game, is improving day by day and coba also will be quite similar and play a little bit with that all three plus Gianni can play there maybe, you know, in that position and see what happened. Joining us now from Monaco, where else do they spend their midweeks? Our commentary team of Connor McNamara and Chris Sutton.

Good evening to both of you. Connor really interesting to hear what Pep Guadiola was saying about Rodry. There was lots made about his return and how significant his absence was, but he's not able to play three games a week, still coming back to full fitness and still having to make sure he really looks after that knee. Yeah, the three games that he did play in a week, it was the Manchester Derby, it was Napoli, you know, the Italian champions

a couple of weeks back, and then it was Arsenal. So those are three particularly strenuous games, aren't they? And I was in the press conference, and Pep Guadiole, he gave a really intelligent answer about it. He actually listed out a number of other players who picked up similar ACL injuries around the time that Rodry did, and he said,

look at it, they're not back yet. So he wants to very much tell him, look, we know he's a very important player. This is a guy who they need back as quickly as possible, and yet they need him for the long-term, This is a ball and door winner. He's a man who can make City tick. He's a man who, when City don't have him,

they don't look quite the presence. So, yes, he's a particular interest, and I think caution is probably the smart move at this stage. You remember when he played in the Club World Cup, Roder, and he seemed to have a little bit of a setback, and then he's obviously started this season, a setback again. But Pep Cordial was keen to stress, this isn't a occurrence of the old injury.

It's a different problem. It's a tendon thing, but they're going to be careful with them. You can understand why. And he's talked about Nico Gonzalez, the guy who he called the Mini Rodry, Kovachich as well. Chris Sutton, obviously, the depth in City Squad is going to prove as important for them as it always is throughout these long seasons in which they'll want to go deep into the competitions.

But are they, I mean, are they having this reset, or have they had this reset that Pep Guardiolis talked about? Or are they still developing, do you think? They've been a bit of a mixed bag, haven't they, this season? I think that's the truth with regards. That's the question. No, but they have you. And, you know, that's what makes tomorrow night so, so interesting.

You're not quite sure which Manchester City team are going to turn up. You know, he went a little bit pragmatic against Arsenal, big win at the weekend against Burnley. You could argue they've been sort of flat track bullies this season. They lost to Brighton, lost to Tottenham, lost to Tottenham beat them, you know, fairly comfortably. So, yeah, I still think that, you know, you know, you know, You know, getting Donna Rummer in was a big deal, but they're not at full tilt. That is it for this episode of the Football Daily podcast on BBC Sounds. In the next episode, Mark Chapman will be reflecting on Wednesday's Champions League action.

For now, though, thanks for listening. Welcome to the brand new podcast series Rugby League Top Ten with me, Mark Chapman. It's where John Wilkin, Brian Noble and Jamie Peacock will discuss, debate and argue over lists at the best players, games, finals, iconic moments and plenty of other categories that will no doubt leave you screaming at your device. Most entertaining parts of that's what are these, the jeopardy, the moments.

He made rugby league look cool. Yeah, I mean, that's a difficult thing to do, I think. It is really, is. Yeah, no. I think we've all managed to carry that battle. Rugby League Top 10. Listen on BBC Sounds.