By First_State_Kopites
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The podcast currently has 169 episodes available.
Welcome dear listener to the latest episode of the 6th season of the pod. I’m Paul and I am joined by Daz, and Justin. And we are 3 for 3, as the Reds went to Old Trafford win 3-0 and we looked good. We will go into detail on the game, we will preview the United game and will look elsewhere at the weekend and what else is happening in the footy world.
Part One - United away:
xG might not be the most useful:
United 1.38 total, - Statsbomb - .98? - 0.08 at half time
Liverpool 1.78 total - 0.69 at half time. BUT xGoT 2.44 to 0.64.
Overall 30 to 31 touches in the opposition box (favors United) - 16 to 9 at half time.
BUT look at the position data - so interesting…..
First Half:
United set up differently - Slot explain the 7/11 press of last season and the 9/10 press (without the man marking)
5 minutes - so close to that iconic Scouser kisses the camera moment - VVD and Ryan fantastic movement.
At 35 - Caesmiro took the hit, but Mainoo, Mazouri, and Dalot positioning. One missed pass should not kill you.
42 - Luis Diaz interception - Casemiro falls down, thought Taylor would give a foul. Salah has Dalot backing off, Diaz first time shot.
Second half
56 - Mainoo dispossessed by the least noticeable of our midfielders (Alexis) sweeping movement and a first time finish - Szobo and Salah.
Game over at 59 minutes. Jota and Szobozlai chances didn’t even count for xG
Salah had a couple of great chances -
Game management - United had more chances, but it felt like we could step up a gear if we needed to.
Salah… unbelievable consistency. Fantastic Michael Cox article breaking down how his dribbles have fallen off while his assists have dramatically increased - now ONLY De Bruyne has more since Mo started in the league. 10 goals at Old Trafford - top 5 in goals at OT in the time he’s played?
We are just better than them, player by player. Harder challenges to follow (Slot)
Part Two - previewing Forest and Milan away:
Team selection - same again?
Forest - what to expect?
Less signings than usual?
Formation against a team with one of the lowest xGAs in the fledgling PL season (2.1) ?
Milan - what kind of rotation?
Predictions
Part Three - Elsewhere:
Everton - a real crisis?
Chelsea - ownership crisis?
Leicester - can’t be found guilty because they were relegated - what a wheeze
We will be back in just over a week with a review of the Forest game. Thanks to Justin and Daz for joining me, Paul. Thank you dear listener for joining us.
If you enjoyed the pod, please share it with a friend. Follow us @FirstStateKopites on Twitter – we only tweet and retweet from sources we think are credible. Music is courtesy of Hypenotic – they are a Welsh electro-pop band – https://hyperfollow.com/hypenotic
Welcome dear listener to the latest episode of the 6th season of the pod. I’m Paul and I am joined by Daz, and Justin. And we are 2 for 2, as the Reds return home and collect another 2-0 win over Brentford. We will go into detail on the game, we will preview the United game and will look elsewhere at the weekend and what else is happening in the footy world.
Part One - Brentford home:
Similar Xg to last week::
Xg - Ipswich, 0.45 total, Liverpool 2.65.
Brentford 2.65 vs 0.36 (.27 set plays)
Touches in opposition box, 50 to 17 (7-7 at the half), vs 42 to 10
First Half:
Brentford probably had more of the ball than we might have expected, but didn’t create much - back 4 took a while to work out?
Liverpool - slow, measured, controlled football. Started 4-3-3 maybe moved to 3-4-3?
Great transitions - from our corners we outnumber them
13th minute, in contrast Mbuemo is chasing back Luis Diaz. 25th goal in 100 appearances. Left foot. Beautiful pass from Diogo. The goal on the break was joyous
Ryan Gravenberch - the answer to the number 6 conundrum? Gravenberch the pessimist. Mac Allister a little too left in the first half. `
Second half
Again, that movement and passing (especially one touch).
Goals was well worked, Salah finish.
Could have had goals from Diogo, Luis Diaz and Salah. In between the slow stuff, there’s some great football.
Game management - no shots from Brentford after 55 minutes, and we could have scored again (and maybe again).
Atwell had his moments. Glad it didn’t matter. Gave them impetus at the end of the first half, decided to ignore the smack in the face for Dominic Szobozslai
Part Two - previewing United:
Team selection - same again? Konate?
United - what to expect?
New signings?
Formation against Brighton?
Predictions
Part Three - Elsewhere:
(Of the EPL winners of the last 11 seasons only 1 - us - is not under investigation for breaking spending rules)
Transfers:
1 week left for our transfers - Tyler Morton, Sepp van den Berg, Bobby Clark - leaving. Arrivals?
Marmadashvili, Chiesa
Barca…..
Chelsea are back baby!
We will be back next week with a review of the United game. Thanks to Justin and Daz for joining me, Paul. Thank you dear listener for joining us.
If you enjoyed the pod, please share it with a friend. Follow us @FirstStateKopites on Twitter – we only tweet and retweet from sources we think are credible. Music is courtesy of Hypenotic – they are a Welsh electro-pop band – https://hyperfollow.com/hypenotic
Welcome dear listener to the third episode of the 6th season of the pod. I’m Paul and I am joined by Daz, and Enrique. And we are away for 2024-5 - on the 50th anniversary of Bob Paisley’s first game as Liverpool manager, Reds go to Portman Road and win 2-0. We will go into detail on the game, we will preview Brentford and we will look elsewhere at the weekend and what else is happening in the footy world.
Part One - Ipswich away:
Very pragmatic - play in long if they man mark
Xg - Ipswich, 0.45 total, 0.31 First half, 0.28 set plays.
Liverpool 2.65 with 0.45 in the first half. Touches in opposition box, 50 to 17 (7-7 at the half).
First Half:
Ipswich didn’t lose at home last season, crowd was up for it,
-ve some hesitancy. MacAllister wasn’t really in it.
Lot of soft fouls - foul every 2 minutes? Disruptive.
Won 41% of the duels (54% in the second half)
Formation - definite 4-2-3-1 to start, evolved 3-3-4 at times.
+ve defensive solidity, started to create some chances towards the end of the half
ZERO shots on target (3 total)
Second half
Konate replaces Quansah
Wow, that movement and passing (especially one touch). They found gaps with movement, yet they won some duels…
Goals were beautiful, Salah, Jota, TAA, Szobozlai, Gravenberch, VVD playing a part
Some of the misses were beautiful
Had other chances - Salah, Diaz
game management - no shots from Ipswich after 68 minutes, and we would have scored again.
Part Two - previewing Brentford:
Team selection - same again? Konate?
Brentford - what do we know about them?
Predictions
Part Three - Elsewhere:
(Of the EPL winners of the last 11 seasons only 1 - us - is not under investigation for breaking spending rules)
Transfers:
2 weeks left for our transfers - reflections on our needs and some of the weirdness elsewhere
We will be back next week with a review of the Brentford game. Thanks to Enrique and Daz for joining me, Paul. Thank you dear listener for joining us.
If you enjoyed the pod, please share it with a friend. Follow us @FirstStateKopites on Twitter – we only tweet and retweet from sources we think are credible. Music is courtesy of Hypenotic – they are a Welsh electro-pop band – https://hyperfollow.com/hypenotic
Welcome dear listener to the second episode of the 6th season of the pod. I’m Paul and I am joined by Daz and Sean. We are days away from the 2024-25 season. And a real game may take away the bad taste of the news around transfers and new contracts..
Part One - pre-season wraps up:
Sevilla and Las Palmas
Lessons learned:
Team selections?
Diogo Jota, Luis Diaz
Midfield without Zubimendi but with Ryan Gravenberch
Nyoni?
Uncertainty surrounding so many players in the squad - feels like this will be destabilizing if the contracts are left to run down.
Outlook for the season - what position would represent success?
Part Two - previewing Ipswich:
Team selection - the Sevilla team?
Ipswich - what do we know about them?
Part Three - Elsewhere:
Of the EPL winners of the last 11 seasons only 1 - us - is not under investigation for breaking spending rules
Chelsea - can any of this work? What charges might they face?
115 charges case being reviews soon
Leicester - guaranteed relegation?
We will be back next week with a review of the Ipswich game. Thanks to Daz and Sean for joining me, Paul. Thank you dear listener for joining us.
If you enjoyed the pod, please share it with a friend. Follow us @FirstStateKopites on Twitter – we only tweet and retweet from sources we think are credible. Music is courtesy of Hypenotic – they are a Welsh electro-pop band – https://hyperfollow.com/hypenotic
Welcome dear listener to the first episode of the 6th season of the pod. I’m Paul and I am joined by Daz and Sean. We are here in the last weeks before the 2024-25 season gets started. It’s been almost 2 months and I think we are happy to have some real content to look at.
The US tour has gone very well by most metrics and in 10 days the new season will get underway.
Part One - 2024 Pre-Season
US tour - overall, yes it was a rip off, but we got to enjoy big Liverpool crowds and a chance to meet good friends.
Pittsburgh and Betis
Philly and Arsenal - the experience and the game
SC and United
Highs and lows? Overall thoughts? Players who have made a solid case to keep the jersey?
Quansah is the Matip replacement?
Tsimikas
Carvalho
Arne Slott and his system:
What do we think of Arne so far?
Who fits into this system and who doesn’t?
Part Two - the upcoming season
Many questions remain:
How long before the team gels?
Are we relaxed about the fact that a lot of guys haven’t participated in team play and there are 11 days til the season kicks off?
3 players with 11 months to run on their contracts
What is our best team?
Role for TAA - Athletic comments section, .. ‘Apart from passing what else does Trent have to offer?’
Aspirations for the season for the Reds
Aspirations for the next 2 games
Highest hopes and lowest lows elsewhere?
Part Three - Elsewhere:
Of the EPL winners of the last 11 seasons only 1 - us - is not under investigation for breaking spending rules
Chelsea, Cheats and the latest from the Theater of Dreams
$100m for Alvarez - WTF?
Chelsea squad is roughly the same size as a Taylor Swift concert audience
We will be back soon, maybe with more on transfers and an Ipswich game preview, definitely with a reaction to the first of 38 games that we’ll play. Thank you dear listener for joining us.
If you enjoyed the pod, please share it with a friend. Follow us @FirstStateKopites on Twitter – we only tweet and retweet from sources we think are credible. Music is courtesy of Hypenotic – they are a Welsh electro-pop band – https://hyperfollow.com/hypenotic
Welcome dear listener to the latest edition of the pod. I’m Paul and I am joined by Justin and Sean. We are here in the last week of the season. We finished 3rd, and all that’s left is to celebrate the Jurgen Klopp era. We may mention Wolves but we’ll really reflect more widely on the season.
Part One - Recent games:
Away at West Ham - 2-2 (xG .70 vs 1.75)
Felt like another one we threw away. Recognition that it didn’t matter as much?
Spurs - 4-2, moments of brilliance, weird ending (xG 3.37 vs 1.24)
Harvey Elliott, Cody Gakpo
Being at Anfield…….
Villa - 3-3, moments of control and then the last 10 minutes (xG 3.2 to 1.74)
A word about Simon Hooper - 10 fouls against us to 1 given to us in the first half.
Part Two - what have we learned - using Data Game by Josh Williams as our platform
Wolves at home - thoughts…..
Is the season a case of overachievement in the first part or a fall off in the second half?
The Klopp effect was great till it wasn’t
Our defense - we’ve scored about the same as we did when we won the league
Trent
Nunez and Luis Diaz - can’t have both?
Saudi messaging re: Salah and Allison
Part Three - Elsewhere:
City - more boring football from the Cheats
Arsenal and City - defensively stronger
Chelsea - Europa League?
No VAR? Wolves, are you kidding?
Man Utd. what is going on?
We will be back with a review of the Wolves game, plus a bigger look at the Klopp era. Thanks to Sean and Justin. And thank you dear listener for joining us.
If you enjoyed the pod, please share it with a friend. Follow us @FirstStateKopites on Twitter – we only tweet and retweet from sources we think are credible. Music is courtesy of Hypenotic – they are a Welsh electro-pop band – https://hyperfollow.com/hypenotic
It’s April 17th - welcome dear listener to the latest edition of the pod. I’m joined by Justin and Daz. It’s been a big week in the Premier League and not the right time to stop scoring at home. Before we are done we’ll look ahead to Atalanta away in the Europa League and Fulham away Sunday.
Part One - Liverpool 0, Palace 1 - 2.81 to 1.98 according to FotMob
Part Two - Atalanta beat us 3-0 - xG 2.6 v 3.22. Possession 70%
Part Three - looking ahead and the context:
We will be back with a review of the Fulham and Atalanta games and a look ahead to the next block of fixtures. Thanks to Daz, and Justin. And thank you dear listener for joining us.
If you enjoyed the pod, please share it with a friend. Follow us @FirstStateKopites on Twitter – we only tweet and retweet from sources we think are credible. Music is courtesy of Hypenotic – they are a Welsh electro-pop band – https://hyperfollow.com/hypenotic
It’s April 9th - welcome dear listener to the latest edition of the pod. I’m joined by Justin and Daz. It’s been a big week in the Premier League and we are going look at home wins over Brighton and Sheffield United and a disappointing draw against them. Before we are done we’ll look ahead to Atalanta in the Europa League and Palace at home on Sunday.
Part One - it’s them again:
Part Two - 2 home wins:
Part Three - looking ahead and the context:
We will be back with a review of the Palace and Atalanta games and a look ahead to the next block of fixtures. Thanks to Daz, and Justin. And thank you dear listener for joining us.
If you enjoyed the pod, please share it with a friend. Follow us @FirstStateKopites on Twitter – we only tweet and retweet from sources we think are credible. Music is courtesy of Hypenotic – they are a Welsh electro-pop band – https://hyperfollow.com/hypenotic
It’s March 23rd - welcome dear listener to the latest edition of the pod. I’m joined by Daz and Sean. Reds lost to Man United on Sunday and we are now focused on a treble. We’ll look back on that game and the Sparta Prague last 16 tie in the Europa League. And before we are done, let’s take a pulse on how we see the rest of the season playing out.
Part One - the FA Cup 6th round - Manchester United 4, Liverpool 3
Well we always hate losing to them don’t we?
First 30 minutes were way too open - United had more shots (7) on target in a first half than they have for a long time.
Switched on end of first half - could have been 3-1
Second half, their weird formation made it seem like we were bound to score, but actually did not have many good opportunities (other than the ones Darwin created)
Taking Salah off at 77 with the game won…
While it’s still 2-1 bad things can happen. Right foot from Antony, felt like a stopped clock telling the right time moment.
Extra time - everyone looked very tired. Could not take enough people off.
Blessing in disguise? Can’t say yes for sure but 2022 experience suggests it could be
Part Two - Liverpool 11 to Sparta Prague 2 - aggregate score:
Four goals up in 14 minutes. Front foot attacking exploiting some very naive defending?
Liverpool should not be playing us said the coach, they should be in the champions league.
Part Three:
Quick word on officiating:
We talk about high bars when we choose to
They talk about intent as well - I thought IFAB had made intent irrelevant
Atwell on VAR - ‘they both came in high’
What are we feeling now:
Maximum of 15 games
Players returning
10 wins in the League likely would be enough but there’s plenty of challenges left
United, Fulham, Villa, West Ham and Everton away - 3 aways in 6 days (unless Arsenal beats Bayern Munich)
Brighton, Sheffield United, Crystal Palace, Spurs and Wolves at home.
Europa League - quarter final against Atalanta, with the prospect of Benfica or Marseille in the semis.
Atalanta not considered a difficult draw… 6th in Serie A. Playing Coppa Italia either side of our fixtures.
Elsewhere, Champions League draw…. FA Cup -
City have to play Chelsea in the FA Cup. If they make it past Real Madrid, they will have no midweeks available.
Arsenal - Bayern Munich. Could easily see Arsenal winning this one.
International chat? Luis Diaz
We will be back with a review of the Brighton game and a look ahead to the fixtures before the international break. Thanks to Daz, and Justin. And thank you dear listener for joining us.
If you enjoyed the pod, please share it with a friend. Follow us @FirstStateKopites on Twitter – we only tweet and retweet from sources we think are credible. Music is courtesy of Hypenotic – they are a Welsh electro-pop band – https://hyperfollow.com/hypenotic
It’s March 11th - welcome dear listener to the latest edition of the pod. I’m Paul, joined by Daz and Justin. Reds drew with Man City yesterday and are now 2nd in the premier league, behind on goal difference. We’ll look ahead to Man United at the weekend and we’ll look at the state of the Europa League and the Sparta Prague tie.
Part One - The Reds should have won this, shouldn’t they?
First half
15 minutes of City threat, City had 4 or 5 openings earlier
Gradually made our way back into this:
Endo tackle on Foden after 5
13 minutes chance for Bradley
Endo, Mac Allister and Elliott were very good
VVD so many times he was exceptional
Clever goal from the cheats
Liverpool responded well. Press intensified.
Rodri and Walker tactical fouls
Gomez moving into midfield
Second half:
47 minute penalty and the non-penalty at 98
Michael Oliver!!!
City have their usual sterile domination at times
Diaz multiple big chances (inc Gakpo)
Other thoughts?
What a gang of ******, Foden, Walker (on Salah), Rodri, Bernardo Silva
Walker - Oliver wasn’t intimidated
Part Two - Sparta Prague - 5-1:
Mac Allister and Nunez were great
Defense was not until Virg arrived
Gakpo bad luck?
Salah almost 14th sub goal
Next Thursday….. Weakest team possible
Part Three:
United in the FA Cup
Formation, predictions
Our perspective - players are coming back, 10 wins would probably do it, given City and Arsenal
We will be back with a review of the United game and a look ahead to the fixtures before the international break. Thanks to Daz, and Justin. And thank you dear listener for joining us.
If you enjoyed the pod, please share it with a friend. Follow us @FirstStateKopites on Twitter – we only tweet and retweet from sources we think are credible. Music is courtesy of Hypenotic – they are a Welsh electro-pop band – https://hyperfollow.com/hypenotic
The podcast currently has 169 episodes available.