Anfield elimination woes & Wembley cup final hopes
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Towing capacity varies by configuration. See Nissan Towing Guide and Owner's Manual for additional information. Always secure cargo. The Athletic FC Podcast Network. Alright Reds, Tony Evans here with Walk On, your Liverpool podcast from The Athletic. I'm here with James Pearce and Simon Hughes. Well, the European dream's over for the season. And it'd be a terrible grim week, wouldn't it? If we didn't have a cup final to look forward to.

Well, we'll ask about what went wrong with PSG's Anfield, and then we'll turn our focus towards Wembley. But first, let's have three words. Sigh. No, that's not me asking you to do it. I'm sighing. I'm sighing. I'm sighing. Because we're out of Europe. Right, yeah. I'm going to go like a stroppy teenager and say, Europe's rubbish anyway. Yeah.

Yeah, who wanted to go to Munich? Who wanted these trips to nice foreign cities? James, James, your culinary adventures will be severely kith-hailed. I know, I was looking forward to Birmingham in the quarterfinals. I'm going to go with heads up, lads. Well, that works for me as well.

Let's hear what you're saying. Well, Craig Jones went full on sigh here. If you don't take your chances, this is what happens like a big game players. The three words, Craig. Three. Is that all hyphenated? No, no hyphens even. Right, but he eventually settled for taking your chances. Well, all right, Craig. In the end, you got there. A bit like sigh again. Thomas Hopp. Reds look tired.

Evie Allen-Jones, Don't Stop Now, and Gabriel Berlin. Two trophies left. To join our community of listeners on Facebook, just search WalkOn Podcast and join the group. Well, James, you said that the Champions League elimination was a European journey that promised so much, but ultimately delivered so little. Um, well, yeah. Anyway, moving on to the Cup final. Yeah.

yeah, do you know what? I'm still, I'm still, I'm really got to grips with it because I think it's difficult to be too critical because PSG are a brilliant side. Um, and I must admit, part of me thinks it was, it was just so unfortunate to have, to have topped that ridiculous league phase. Um,

and for that to be a reward because, and I don't think it's just being wise after the event because we talked about it earlier in the week, it couldn't have been any harder. There isn't a tougher opponent to have anywhere in Europe at the moment than this PSG team at this moment in time with the form that they're in. Yeah, but on the other hand, if they beat PSV and we were all happy with the team at the time, then they don't get PSG.

I'm confused by that. PSV, PSG, you know what I mean? Yeah, but then, I mean, but then, I don't know. It's, I didn't have a problem with the team that he picked that night because, you know, I think a lot of players were running on empty and at some point you've got to make big decisions. I, you know, it's,

It was one of those that could easily have ended up on the other side of the draw and couldn't have faced PSG into the final potentially. It was just a shame for me that that had to be a last 16 game because the quality of it and the intensity belonged much later on in the competition. And then there's also a nagging feeling of...

Despite PSG being as good as they are, they were still beatable. I don't think we saw the best of Liverpool across the two games, especially in Paris. Despite what Slot said about how he was adamant that Liverpool didn't play poorly, they did. They were poor in the first leg, made far too many mistakes, were far too passive, backed off. And yes, they were

they came away with a one-nil win but you know that massively flattered them and then you know at Amfield on Tuesday night it felt like they'd used up all that good luck in the first leg because nothing really went for them on the night um it's just a shame for me that that early blast just didn't get the reward it deserved I think you know those two Salah chances I think if one of those goes in the decibel levels go through the roof and it it

it would have been really interesting to see how PSG cope with that but as it was they scored with their first attack and that completely changed the complexion of the night yes I mean we were all pretty confident going into the game

obviously take your chances and all that, but they look like a tired team as well, Liverpool. That was the most concerning thing. But I guess when you play 90 minutes against a top quality team and then it goes to extra time and penalties, by the end, you do tend to look very tired anyway, regardless of the outcome of the results. You're very rarely seeing extra time at full throttle, do you? So it's your last memory from the game. But Liverpool did lack...

They did seem to lack some energy at certain points of the game, but I'm reticent to say that it looks like they're running an empty or anything like that because, you know, they were just, I think, naturally against a team the quality of PSG, there are going to be phases in the game where they dominate and Liverpool have to sort of cede possession a little bit to them. I mean, it wasn't quite like the way it was in Paris last week. And I think that game...

you know, took a lot out of Liverpool, you know, over the last two games when you're chasing the ball and having to concentrate, it is tiring. So they're going to have to sort of get over it pretty quickly because there's an enormous game coming at the weekend. I tend to think, you know, that a cup final does tend to focus the minds of

But it's an unusual feeling, really, because as we discussed in a previous podcast, this has never happened to Liverpool before. They've never won a European tie away from home, lost one at home and gone out. So it does feel a bit odd, I would say. But, you know, maybe people forget, you know, Liverpool got knocked out of Europe somewhat surprisingly, I'd say the last season they won the league, didn't they, as well, to Atletico Madrid. I know the very unusual circumstances around that return leg at Anfield.

But maybe for sort of a reference point, that is it. It's sort of, just because you're winning the league doesn't mean that you're going to absolutely steamroller in Europe as well. I remember thinking back to when Arsenal played

where, you know, the invincible team that went the whole league season unbeaten, they got knocked out of Europe in the quarterfinals by Chelsea, having been battered at home by Inter Milan earlier on in the competition. You know, they just came up, I think, against a slightly better team over two legs. And even being critical, I think that the squad depth came into play a bit. James, we talked about starting Darwin. I think we all thought that'd be a pretty good idea. And we said...

We said rather whimsically, it's going to have a big part to play in the season. A defining part to play in the season. Well, doggone it, we were right.

Yeah, it didn't quite pan out how we hoped it would be. I felt sorry for him because I think you were willing him to stick that penalty away. You just want to hook the big dope, don't you? Yeah, for so many different reasons, not just in the context of Liverpool's European adventure, but you just thought, if it doesn't work out tonight, don't let it be him because he's had to deal with so much stick and negativity at various points, but...

It was tough. It just kind of sums up the way that things have gone for him at Liverpool, really. You know, every time there's a step forward like there was with, you know, the impact he made in the second half against Southampton, there's another couple of steps back. That's how it seems to feel. And I think that number nine position, you know, it's been a theme, hasn't it? As good as Liverpool have been this season overall.

They've been so reliant on Salah for goals and I thought Nuno Mendes, after a little bit of a tricky start, first 10-15, did a brilliant job on Salah. And it was kind of across the tie really. I just thought that lack of an elite number nine to really lead the line, Jota...

You know, it's struggled for me. I think he's now got nine appearances without a goal. You know, we know there's massive doubts about whether Nunes will still be a Liverpool player next season. You know, that kind of jumps out at you that no matter whether, you know, it's one or two. There was massive doubt he was a Liverpool player on Tuesday night. I just think that that's kind of quite glaring in terms of if you look at PSG players,

of being the kind of, you know, the pinnacle really, I'd say at the minute in terms of teams around Europe, that lack of like a proper elite number nine would have made a big difference, I think, in terms of swinging what was admittedly a really, you know, thrilling two games. You know, I think it could have edged it Liverpool's way.

We saw all sides of Darwin, didn't we? From the high comedy to, well, to the less amusing side of his game. Yeah, well, the penalty miss is obviously going to get the most attention, but, you know, the general performance... I mean, I...

I don't want to sound like a football player because I am not, obviously. But I can't be critical of a player for stepping up and taking a penalty because it is, you know, it's just so courage to do that in the circumstances, particularly when you're somebody as under fire as Nunes is. I can be more critical of the performance that went before, actually, against him on a night where he needed to really turn up, I think, to really...

to really unsettle PSG as he did the week before but he didn't again that's what I would be more annoyed by rather than the penalty miss really

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Get an expert now at TurboTax.com. Only available with TurboTax Live Full Service. See guaranteed details at TurboTax.com slash guarantees. Remember, if you want to get in touch with the show, you can email us on walkonattheathletic.com. After Monday's pod, where we were talking about great catchphrases of our time.

And Warrior Jordan Peterson got into it to say Love the show I come not to listen We like that If you can send us a voice note With a bit of wit in as well We'll absolutely love you We'll probably get you on the show We'll probably replace Simon with you You know I mean It's there It's there The opportunity is there for you And

Anyway, we also take your voice notes on serious topics that you want us to discuss and on that theme, let's see what came in after that defeat to PSG. Hi guys and warm greetings from Hrvoslav, from Bosnia and Herzegovina to all who will listen to this. I would like to ask a question about Alisson during penalty shootouts because his overall record is not the best.

For Liverpool he only has 1 win and 3 defeats and for Brazil he has 1 win and 2 defeats in penalty shootouts. In those penalty shootouts he faced 33 penalties which went on target and he only saved 3 of them. For example, in his career he faced 32 penalties during the games and he saved 8 of them.

So can you explain the difference in penalties saved during the games and in penalties during the shootouts and what can be done about it so he can keep being the best goalkeeper in the world? Thank you. And I would really like to see and hear your opinions about this. Thank you. Well, James, you're the penalty king. I mean, are you going to nip around to Pepe Reynos and...

Give him to give some tips to Alison or, or is it one of those where there's statistics and I don't know, what did he say? Damn lies and all that.

I don't know. Yeah, I mean, it is a weird discrepancy, isn't it? It's something I hadn't picked up on. I mean, I think probably we don't need to go and speak to Pepe Reina. I think Alisson could just go and speak to Quivine Keller because I think he must have one of the best records in terms of penalties that anyone's had with his shootout record. But yeah, it's a weird one. I think...

The only one that really frustrated me from PSG's spot kicks was the first one, actually. Because I think, you know, that was one for me that I think Alisson will be kicking himself that he didn't save. You know, you could see that Vettini went with that kind of stuttered run-up, didn't he, that so many favour these days, waiting and waiting for Alisson to commit. He didn't. And I thought he was going to catch him out because, you know, he...

It wasn't right in the corner. He was so close to it. For me, his weight didn't seem quite right when he was pushing off to try and keep that ball out. And then the other ones were just great penalties. I think so much research goes into it now. But the reality is if someone hits the ball sweetly and it is right in the corner, it doesn't matter how good your reflexes are as a goalkeeper and what homework you've done.

it's still the odds are massively, massively against you, aren't they? So yeah, it's an interesting one to flag, but I don't see there's any real reason why you should be better at saving penalties in normal time or extra time compared to come a shootout. So if you're Newcastle, are you playing for the draw then?

Well, the first one that James mentioned, he looked like an over-50s Slipfields or in a cricket match. He went down in installments, didn't he? It was a bit awkward watching it. It reminded me actually of Loris Karius, believe it or not, in the Champions League semi-final defeat in Rome in the second leg when suddenly they were just shooting from every single angle and he just couldn't seem to get down to the pitch of the ball. Yeah.

So, yeah, I mean, I think my sort of very amateur explanation of why is record slightly better from open games is I suppose it is easier to plan for penalties in a

in an ordinary 90 minutes, whereas penalty shoot... You know who's likely to be the penalty taker. You largely know who is coming and you have an impression of what they're doing, whereas the penalty shootout, it is more difficult because there's a variety of people. You don't know which players start, who you're playing against,

are going to be taking the penalties based on who starts the game and who finishes the game. There's more to consider, I guess. One thing that is slightly strange is that, obviously, one of Liverpool's goalkeepers, goalkeeping coach is Taffarel, was an expert penalty saver as well, wasn't he? You know, he...

you could argue, won the World Cup for Brazil by saving a few penalties in 1994. So you would have thought that this would be something that they'd certainly be working on closely. But as soon as it went to a penalty shootout, I just didn't fancy Liverpool. First time I've ever felt that way. Usually going to a penalty shootout, thinking Liverpool are going to win. But I did think about Alisson's records in penalty shootouts and I thought, why didn't they just bring... Well, I know they couldn't have done because they used the substitutes, but...

And, you know, Kovine Kel has very good saving pens and shoots out, hasn't he? I think the other thing that jumped out at me with the pens, I agree, Si, I had the same kind of feeling of, I don't think this is going to work out the way we hope it will be, was the fact that, you know, two of Liverpool's penalty takers were

weren't on the field were they in terms of McAllister definitely would have taken one if he'd still been there and I think Alexander-Arnold would have done as well and obviously we're waiting to learn the extent of his injury but yeah so it was it's very easy to point the finger and say a goalkeeper should do more but it's I think so much of it despite all the work that goes into it is that there is a lottery element to it

Well, before we move on from the PSG game, James, Van Dijk was seen afterwards talking to PSG's owner, and I believe you have an update for the Contract Weekly. Well, you say an update. I think it was probably the kind of bulletin we've heard a few times from Virgil this season in that he said that he's still got no idea what's

where he'd be playing his football next season, which, you know, in the aftermath of that game, I don't think it's what anyone particularly wanted to hear. But yeah, he was asked whether he would be back for another crack at Champions League glory with Liverpool next season. And he said that, you know,

He said, if there is news, you guys will know about it. I don't even know myself. Everyone knows there's conversations going on behind the scenes. That's about it. At the moment, I don't even know what will happen myself next year. If anyone says they do know, then they're lying to your face. So, yeah, I know, as you said, he was spotted in conversation with the PSG hierarchy in the tunnel afterwards. But that, you know, we've been told since that that was absolutely nothing to do with PSG.

his future. That was to do with, you know, he wanted to congratulate them on going through and how well they played across the two games. And I think also, you know, there was some footage emerged, didn't they? I think, you know, a bit of an angry exchange after the first game where he'd said, you know, it's not Liga un bro.

or whatever, over the PSG complaints about Canarte not getting sent off. So I think he just wanted to know that there was no bad blood over that one. Well, let's lift ourselves and look ahead to the trip to Wembley. By the way, we mentioned how tired they looked, you know, and we said, well, yeah, quite rightly against good teams, they're going to tire you out. You know, you're going to do that.

But it is a little worrying, isn't it? Because it was after the League Cup final last year, at the end of February, that the bottom fell out of them. And we're pretty slopped for keeping them fresh, particularly in the five games and 15 days. But, you know, this run's been four games and 12 days. And, you know, they did look a bit leggy, didn't they?

Well, they did. I mean, I suppose there is a difference to last season whereby they went into that final with Chelsea with a severely understrength team because there'd been so many injuries, you know, lots of players or several players missed out. And then Liverpool's season unravelled because those players were actually coming back into the team and trying to get up to speed at a time when the pressure was really on. It's sort of the reverse of that this season whereby the availability is largely being pretty good. But Liverpool

Obviously, it seems like Trent Alexander-Arnold is going to miss the cup finally. Did he say that after the game? Yeah, he said he'd be very surprised if he's fit. Which is a concern. So where are they up to with Conor Bradley's injury at the moment? Yeah, he won't be fit. He won't be fit. Bradley, yeah, he's not been called up by Northern Ireland because they don't expect him to be back

until the March international break and obviously Gomez is a longer term one after his surgery. So right back to problems straight away. I mean, Jarrell Kwanzaa will have to play there. It's well into PSG, Kwanzaa. Yeah, well, we saw Canarte go off as well. I mean, what was the extent of his injury, James? Slott said he was confident it was just cramp.

Right, okay. So, I mean, yeah, it is a concern, but I think that if Liverpool win on Sunday, it'll certainly settle the mind and give the players a bit more confidence again. Because it's a sort of defeat to PSG that I think can rock your confidence because Liverpool have had such a good season, certainly domestically, and until this moment in the Champions League have had it largely their own way.

suddenly you come up against a team that is just a little bit better than you and a squad that for my money is a bit stronger. You know, they were bringing Goncalo Ramos on as a sub who is not, you know, he's a good player. You know, he scored in the penalty shootout. Liverpool obviously didn't have that option in extra time and I just thought all the subs worked for PSG again in the way that they did for Liverpool. So that is the concern for me is that

The squad depth, it doesn't afford for many injuries really. They suddenly have to contend with a few injuries.

That sort of shows in, you know, Slott's choices because, you know, the start in 11 was the seventh time against PSG. He's named the same 11 in 46 games. You know, Klopp only ever named the same 11 five times in 491. And, you know, a core group of players, 14 players have played over 1,500 minutes or more, including Alisson and Kelleher.

James, that's, yeah, it does point out that he trusts a certain group of players, but that might be because the players he doesn't trust aren't quite up to scratch yet.

Yeah, I think there's a few things in that. I think the biggest factor behind that has just been that the injuries have just been, you know, much, much fewer over the course of this season. You know, he's done one of the big strengths of slot, which was there when Liverpool were doing their due diligence on him a year ago, was his track record of players staying fit. So, you know, that kind of explains why so many players

you know, core players have played the amount of minutes they have done because not many of them have had spells out. But yeah, I think there's certainly been points during the season when he could have rotated more to freshen things up and has been reluctant to turn to certain players. I mean, you look at, you know, Chiesa would be the most obvious example, wouldn't he? In terms of, you know, I don't think there was any scenario where he was ever going to get onto that pitch against PSG.

because you know I just don't think that the trust is there and you know you go back to last summer and the fanfare around signing him I don't think anyone would have believed that that you'd get to the middle of March and I think he's played less than half an hour of Premier League football combined so um

So yeah, it's, I mean, it's difficult, isn't it? Because I also think it is fine margins. Because I thought Liverpool were great second half, especially. And, you know, you think about, you know, if only, you know, Diaz hadn't strayed just offside in the build-up to that time when Zabozlai scores and you, you know, Salah had that one cleared off the line. The Kwanzaa header that hits the inside of the post and stays out.

The flag went up, but it went up wrongly. If that had gone to VAR, that goal would have stood. And then this podcast today would be completely different, wouldn't it? So yeah, extra time, absolutely. They looked leggy. And I think the biggest thing for me is probably, this is probably the next few days is the biggest challenge of Slott's reign so far. Because as Simon touched on before, like,

this is the first proper setback. Yes, Liverpool had lost four of the games this season, but I think the other four were pretty easy to just shrug off when you think to, you know, Forrest at home, you know, it was just one of them, one that when you dominate, don't take your chances, run out of ideas, they nick one on the counter-attack, it happens. You know, Liverpool's league results around either side of that were so good, it's like, you know,

Who cares kind of thing. You know, you think of, you know, the first leg defeat to Tottenham in the Carabao semi didn't matter because we demolished them in the second leg. You know, PSV in the Champions League with a shadow line-up, Plymouth in the FA Cup with a shadow line-up. These were all ones where everyone just shrugged their shoulders, but this one properly cuts deep, you know, to go out of Europe, especially having won seven out of eight in the league phase and then to fall at the first hurdle in the knockouts.

And I think you could see it. Salah was in tears, wasn't he? You looked how inconsolable Nunes and Curtis Jones were after missing their penalties. And it was Virgil van Dijk doing his best to lift chins off the floor. But that's a big task for slot now. It's not just the physical. It's the psychological for me ahead of Sunday. Yes, and we bounce from one state-owned entity to another. Yeah.

Very smooth, Tony. Yeah, well, Newcastle, I mean, we could talk for quite a long time, I guess, about models of ownership. I mean, immediately the most relevant thing for Liverpool, I guess, you know, we've spoken about Liverpool's injuries, but Newcastle have got a lot of problems on that front, haven't they? You know, absentees. So how many players have they got missing at the moment? I mean, Anthony Gordon...

doing what he did against Brighton. I still can't really get my head around that. It almost seems like he was deliberately trying to miss the final. Like, you know, we've got a final coming up. Just keep your head down. Don't do anything daft. What does he do? Basically, you know,

you know, clips his opponent around the back of the head and gets sent off. The whistle's already gone as well. Just, you know, if you're going to get sent off, you might as well land one on him rather than doing that, you know. Lewis Hall's missing as well, isn't he? Lewis Hall. I think they've got quite a few. Sven Bottmann's out, isn't he? So, you know, these are players that have done well for them this season. You know, key players. I mean, bottom line is there's always fancy Liverpool players

In any final, but particularly against Newcastle, you know, it's how many years ago this week? I was working this out earlier on this week for the previous pod, but the anniversary of the second 4-3 against Newcastle.

in 1997 is this week as well, which I'm sure somebody will draw attention to at some point. But, you know, those run of games between Liverpool and Newcastle almost really sort of set the agenda for everything that's followed since between the clubs, hasn't it? And I just always think, well, you know, Liverpool are going to beat Newcastle. Maybe that's... It's not the height of analysis that you're expecting, Tony, but...

It's just one of those things, you know. Well, what's next, Spectre? When you said you prepared for a pod? I mean, James, do you believe that for one second? I've seen no evidence to back that up. James, given we've talked about Darwin and the issues we have at number nine, what about Isaac?

Yeah, he is the biggest threat, isn't he, to Liverpool defending their crown and lifting that League Cup for a record 11th time on Sunday afternoon. He's a class act, there's no doubt about that. One of the most complete centre-forwards around at the minute. The type of player that I think would fit absolutely perfectly into slots Liverpool, I think...

I think probably the biggest kind of issue with that becoming a reality would be the sheer price tag that Newcastle would place on him with the years he's got left on his deal. I think you'd be looking at a fee well in excess of £100 million. And, you know, of course, when you look at what Liverpool might need to do in the market this summer, you know, would they really be able to commit that kind of fee? Will I have all that money coming in from Trent, from Virgil and from... Oh, oh, oh.

So, yeah, and Isaka's caused Liverpool problems previously, hasn't he? And we saw, you know, the game at Anfield in February was the perfect example of Newcastle without him because they didn't lay a glove on Liverpool that night. It was as routine a 2-0 win as you can find. And I suppose, you know, although they have got key personnel missing, as we just talked about,

The other one that I think he's not massively gifted, but he's a nuisance is Joe Linton in terms of coming back into that midfield just with his physical presence. And he seems to have this kind of like special ability to kick people 27 times a game without picking up cards.

So, yeah, I don't think, I don't think despite their injury issues, you know, I think when you go back to that game at Anfield, you probably thought, God, that cup final could be properly one-sided. I think everyone is probably reassessing now because despite Newcastle's issues, Liverpool have got some themselves, haven't they? I don't think Jarrell Kwanzaa, if you'd asked him a few weeks back whether he thought he'd be starting a major cup final at right-back, he'd have probably chuckled to himself. So, yeah,

Yeah, and the big unknown is how Liverpool are going to respond to Tuesday night because you could see that something like that, there is a danger of being a hangover. Si, this obviously, it's the first trophy that Slot could win. I mean, what do you think that means to a manager, the opportunity to win a trophy so soon after you've come to a club?

Well, Slott's in a very unusual position, isn't he? Because, you know, we've seen a lot of foreign managers come into Liverpool, whether it be Gerard Houllier, Benitez, Klopp, all very good managers. And they haven't been able to not just launch a title chasing campaign, but be in the driving seat in his very first season. So,

I think that ordinarily getting to a quarterfinal and winning that quarterfinal potentially would be a really good thing for Arna Slot. But because they've done so well in the league, it almost doesn't feel as important for them. I'm sure from his perspective, if Liverpool win...

you know, he'll feel very satisfied by that. But, you know, again, you sort of sometimes just think, well, the League Cup or the Carabao Cup can act as a sort of a trampoline for the rest of the season. But Liverpool are in such a good position in the league. They're not now in the Champions League.

You know, they just got to see the rest of the season out. You know, it's five or maybe six wins or even fewer wins that they need to win the title, depending on what Arsenal do. So it's quite a unique, you know, situation to be in, quite an unusual situation. I mean, it's fair to say if they get knocked out of the Champions League and they lose the final to Newcastle, you know, suddenly some people will start asking, are Liverpool feeling the pressure a little bit, you know,

which is not a position he wants to find himself in. There's no denial. Win the League Cup, yes, it'll give him a temporary bit of confidence. But with the League title being so close, that just feels like such a big, big thing for him that I don't think he'll be...

sanctioning a big party after winning the League Cup final I mean yeah Benitez and Klopp reached the League Cup final in the first year and you know yes they did so yeah they did but James it did yes it's not the hangover from PSG is a little bit because we all you know European success Liverpool we crave European success and

But I don't want to be too downbeat because I'll be honest. I reckon we could declare after the international break and we'll still win the league. You know, I think I've done me maths, Arsenal dropping points, and I reckon we could be getting the title at Anfield as soon as Tottenham on the tail end of April. I mean, I think the league's a done deal.

And so I'm kind of, you know, even if it all goes wrong and, you know, the Middle East gangs up against us, the Gulf States gang up against us and inflict two defeats, we're going to walk the league. Yeah, yeah. I know it is a strange, I'm just struggling. I think maybe this just so soon after the game, I'm struggling to kind of,

to see the glass half full type view of everything because I think, I thought that Liverpool were set up to go so deep in the Champions League this season and especially as bad as the draw was getting PSG, you looked at Villa or Bruges and you thought, well, you know,

Either of them are getting dealt with. And then you're thinking, you know, how good would it be to meet Real Madrid?

in the semis and put one over them. And we know how good Munich is. So I think it is difficult to completely park the disappointment of Tuesday night. But yeah, I think sometimes you have to take a step back, don't you? And go, imagine if someone had said to you in August, like, you know, you'll be going to a Wembley Cup final in the middle of March.

90 minutes away from slot's first trophy and oh by the way at the same point you're 15 points clear at the top of the Premier League with 9 league games to go of course of course where do you sign so it

You know, we waited 30 years to see Liverpool win the league and they're on the brink of doing it for the second time in five years. So no one expected this. So it just changes the whole psyche, I think, of the run into the season. Because, you know, if Liverpool win the Carabao Cup final on Sunday, the way that things are with the Premier League, the season could be almost effectively done and dusted, as you said, Tony, by the back end of April.

And you'll have this kind of weird May where we're just kind of waiting for the trophy lift when we thought that May would involve, you know, a bit more kind of jeopardy and high stakes games against European opposition.

Well, I'm having none of that because you know what? I want me to be really dull. I want that title in the trophy room in April. I want to be able to go onto the pitch and moon the opposition and all get sent off.

and still not care and still win the title. That's what I want. And you know what? I'm having no negativity because we're on the march. We're on the way to Wembley. Sigh. It's great. It's big. It's Newcastle at Wembley. I think in 1974, I think of how we stuffed them. That's what... Look, if you're too down about PSG, there's still two trophies to be won and both of them are in touching distance.

and two trophies the world's a kill for two trophies of course I've just got this image of you running onto the pitch and baring your arse at everybody not again not again Tony there's an injunction which stops me doing that so you know but you know this is it people this is it but you're right you are right I mean I

Again, we're sort of in unfamiliar territory, aren't we? For a lot of people, you know, obviously, I suppose at certain points in Liverpool's history, certainly late 70s, throughout the 80s, you know, the seasons where Liverpool had the title wrapped up.

pretty early I mean I'd have to go back and check but I'm wondering now when was the earliest 83 we lost 5 at the last 6 or something like that they just stopped playing the players were drunk for the whole period yeah yeah I remember actually interviewing one of the players about that I think there was a famous game up in Middlesbrough wasn't there where they actually went onto the pitch having had a few before the game yeah they had the right um

Different times. That the club hadn't arranged a party for them because of the World Cup. That was 1982. And so soon as rallied the squad at 12 o'clock in the afternoon, it's like, we're all going to the pub. And they went out till five, come back, had a little kip and then went out. And you know what? They still drew. Well, you know, purer times maybe, Tony, or maybe not. I don't know. But yeah, I mean, I think...

It's something for everybody to adjust to, really. I mean, it's a lovely position to be in, isn't it? The sooner the better, as far as I'm concerned. I mean, as much as you want jeopardy in May, you want the right jeopardy, I just think you've got to get it wrapped up as quickly as possible. And I think Arsenal will...

We'll drop more points and invite the possibility of that title being secured a bit earlier for Liverpool. I've done the maths. I've looked at Arsenal dropping points. And I reckon the 27th of April, Tottenham Hotspur at home is when we'll get the title. That's, I'm certain. And then we can write off the whole of May and just enjoy ourselves. Is it Tottenham? Tottenham at home, yeah. Yeah, I've sort of earmarked that one as well.

So yeah, it'd be a nice, potentially a nice Sunday night out. So look, people, you're living through brilliant times despite the odd defeat. Cup finals at Wembley, titles in waiting, and we're going to bring it all to you at walk-on. We'll see you next week, hopefully with another cup in the trophy room. The Athletic FC Podcast Network.