 Welcome to the Premier League show, but back to discuss all things Premier League and what will be a big weekend I think in football Liverpool take on Manchester City this weekend at Anfield Sunday, 4.30 kickoff, it's a big game, it's a big game, made bigger by last weekend's result, on Sunday last week Liverpool went to the Emirates. Normally I have a very good record against Arsenal and I've ultimately lost a game by three goals to two, a late penalty from Bacharys Szeche, with Kaio Szeche even, the winner, and again that Liverpool, with the pool of behind in, what 45 seconds or something, people just allow them players to run beyond them without knowing who they are. I've gone back in it, down on Nunes with a good goal, took it well, sliding in, and then obviously Arsenal went back in front and Trent decided not to run back. This one, not like him at all now, obviously equalised again and then Arsenal won it later on, but in terms of where Arsenal are this season, because obviously they're flying, it was the eighth win in nine games, which is an incredible start to the season for them. If they play Leeds away this Sunday, if they win that game, it's early, if they win that game, a kickoff time, in Troubles City in a minute, but there'd be four points ahead of Manchester City and 18 ahead of Liverpool already. Is that too much for Liverpool to claw back already Arsenal, especially if they didn't win on Sunday? The 18 would be unreal for Liverpool to claw back, and if Manchester City beat Liverpool, forget about Arsenal for a minute, then that would be 18 and 17 points behind the top two, that would be a lot, and I don't think Liverpool have got enough. Listen, Liverpool have had injuries and they've picked up more injuries, the answer I think is out to laughter at the World Cup now, it's not coming back to Boxing Day. Trent Alexander and Arnold are going to be out for a couple of weeks as well, so they have picked up injuries, which happen of course, that's why you have squad, but you'd probably have to rule them out of it this season and that's what happens ultimately. You have a bad start when the teams are so good, you're talking about, you look at the league table and where Liverpool have finished in the last couple of years and getting over 90 points, Liverpool would have to win, probably every game bar a couple to get to that over 90 points again, you know what I mean? I'm sure I've waked it out, it's something like 29 games to play haven't it, so that's 60 points and 87 points, so if they won every game they'd have 97 points, which is what they got the other season, that's winning every single game. The drop three more wins that's it, you can't get 90 points already, it's only October show. The problem is, you've just hit the nail on the head, the problem is, as good a start as Arsenal have had, I personally, and I hope I'm not offending Arsenal fans of the bottom, I don't expect them to carry on the way they are. The thing with Manchester City is normally they do carry on the way they are, so you can't give too much away early on, but in the past, talking about 10 years ago maybe, you might have got away with this sticky start, you can never rule Liverpool out, I still wouldn't, but you might still be in it at this stage because the team who you rival's probably wouldn't have won as many games as what city they are, so you'd be going over six points behind but we can make that. Now, these teams, your teams are winning. That's the point isn't it? That's what I was saying about if City beat them this weekend, it wouldn't be about catching one team, we're catching two teams, you've got to win all your games and also those two teams have got to drop a lot of points, and for Arsenal, sorry, for Manchester City they're used to. Imagine Manchester City, look at things of we have to get 90 odd points, that's what we get anyway. So the team next to them, they're basically saying can you match us, so it's not a case of... Well, Spares play everything on Saturday night, if Spares win, they go second, well during second, and they'd be 13 points at the Liverpool. So you're talking on Sunday night if it went wrong for Liverpool, they'd be 18 points behind Arsenal, should they win, 17 behind City and 13 behind Spares already. Now they can catch Spares I think, because four, five wins over the season, it's doable, you've got to play Spares as well of course. But you're giving yourself a big amount to play already. It is difficult, it is very difficult, but obviously that's where Liverpool almost comes down to a must win on Sunday night doesn't it? I think for Arsenal and City, they were due to play each other next week, next Wednesday, but obviously that game has been postponed now for Arsenal to play in the Europa League because of a game that was postponed earlier. So it's setting it up, it's funny the way it's playing out and it's setting up, the Manchester City Arsenal game is not going to be played this side of this year. So you're going to have two man City Arsenal games next year now in the back end of the season, they're going to be huge. I say Arsenal, Arsenal being really really good, whether they can keep it going who knows. But the thing for Arsenal this season was to trough four, so the fact that they're flying out the traps now, they're setting themselves up to be in a position where they're comfortable. What does it say about Liverpool though, because I know they're having a tough season, but say they did finish fourth again this season. That would be two fourth place finishes in three years by the way, since they won the league so it's an interesting one isn't it? Because I know some of their fans are getting a little bit worried about the lack of buying power and how they're not trying to keep up with man City which is really difficult, we know that. I think what Liverpool's issue has been to midfield today, I know we've had injuries in everyone. You can go right down the league with teams, you've had injuries in our own club. There's that eight or nine already and we've only played nine games. Liverpool have had big injuries as well and it does hampir of course it does. There's a thing here that I think probably Liverpool fans are speaking about but other people seems to have maybe missed as well. It's a huge shadow man he was for them. Man he was the player that in games like Liverpool top of Liverpool, saying they're Arsenal. He would have been the player that put Liverpool free two off in that game. Where Mo Salah has been a little bit still fantastic but he's been a little bit quieter. Diaz has been a bit hit in this but man he was constant. Where would he be without Firminio? Firminio's fantastic. He's been unbelievable for them and Diaz hasn't quite settled just yet. The red card sort of threw him out in his coming in and stuff and how they're playing and they look a little bit disjointed. But it's been very very strange staff for them this season. Obviously somebody does feel make a break for them. I know they're coming off the back of an amazing Champions League win. I mean not against the greatest opposition in the world. But it does feel like if they're going to get any kind of momentum going it has to be now and it has to start with the game against Manchester City. To get before that break which probably will be a welcome break to Liverpool for all the injured he's just got to get all those players back. Clop-up ought to be looking at it right now going if we can pick up four or five wins which they would expect and we'd all expect them to win. In these next set of fixtures they've got City then they've got West Ham in the next couple. If they were to win four or five of them and get themselves at least that momentum and then get the players back from injured then they'll be thinking second half of the season we'll have a right go. But it's whether they do win those games. And that's where Sunday is so pivotal for them. I think if you're peck while the older and Sunday just don't get beat. Normally you're looking at it in the tight of the nip and suck so they think if we beat them we've got a leg up on them here. They're already mad at them. If they come out of it still for City and on 13 points clear off them. If they come out of it Sunday night still 13 points and they'll be more than they'll be like. Even though I think City speaking to the Reds in here they're very wary about Sunday. They think they're going to get battered but I don't. But I think if you peck while the older avoid the defeat. You know he's come out today and said Yeag and Clot and Liverpool are still their biggest rivals which is an interesting one. You've got to have me. You've got to say because they have been over the last five years. They have been on the net of an interesting one. It also ties into what's been going on in the eight eight sport this week on the playlist. It's a discussion who the Premier League manages greatest rival. He's our other best rival. Let's have a listen to what the lads have got to say about that. And Gales. Venga Marino that was you know that was nasty. That was war. That was horrible. But I think the Fergie Keegan one right. I sort of remember that. You've got to have fisticuffs on that. Venga Marino went for it. Where did mind games start? It started with this rivalry Fergie and Keegan when he got inside Keegan's head on his way to win a league completely lost it. And that is why that's like to me that's the original. Nutter. Original. Original. But that's the original. That beat should drop right now. That was the original to me. That's the original big clash. Do you know what I think you're right? I've put Pep and Clop on here because I thought we had to. I thought that was part of it. This doesn't belong here. I hate that. That belongs on there. I don't care if it was for one second. I don't like that. It's too nice hugging each other off the game. I hate it. I'm so offended. You know when Chelsea play? And Chelsea play against West Ham. We have such antipathy tools West Ham United. Like they are one of our biggest rivals. And you know when I see sort of Declan Ryse and Mason. I know their mates. But just pay me the courtesy of pretending that you're not. And then go to Sexy Fish together in order to Black Cod. Do what you've got to do, right? But pretend to me that the rivalry matters. Pretend to me that the rivalry matters. It's still a club over everything. Interesting. Interesting chat there. Some good ones brought up. Just on Clop. What are the other mean? Robby was saying there obviously. All the hugging and all the loving for each other. There is a respect there. But I think on a purity level you go all that. It's a football rivalry. Just because the two teams are quite good. But you were saying there it was mentioned before. Alex Ferguson and Josie Merino. Ars and Wenger and then obviously Merino. In with Wenger as well and stuff like that. But is Ferguson and Wenger like probably the most needly one? And the one that because those two teams. The game of Old Trafford. There was definitely like a war of wards there. There was never like, never ever any. You know, they never showed any kind of love for each other. You might have gone and had a bottle of whammydysydd or whatever. A glass of whammydysydd there. But it was never shown on the pitch. And it was funny because you just said that. I was thinking for a minute Pep and Merino. Or maybe the old fishwch at Barcelona and Merino. That kind of thing. They really don't like each other. But yeah, I think about it. We see this all the time. Not just managers but players as well. When they go off after the game and they're hugging each other. And they're giving it all that. Fans don't want to see that. Fans never want to see that. Fans want, look at the content thing with Tushal. Fans, everyone loved it. You know, kind of goes, it's whatever wants to see. It's whatever wants to see. But there was a rawness of that. That was genuine. And people might want to see anything like that. But people just want to see that thing of shake hands and look at the other way kind. The old no-look shake. You've got to be skilled for this. People want to see that. People want to see that because they don't want. They don't want there to be any signs of weakness. I'll be honest. Chelsea beat us first game of the season. And I was a bit annoyed because obviously the penalty. It was a foul on the face. It wasn't a foul on the face. All of that, we lost the game. But we're all clapping and then Frank Lampart hugging the players. No, mate. There's a tunnel there. I could have understood it if it was the way I'd been where they go off one way. They go down there, go and do whatever you want in that tunnel. But on that pitch, your ass for that thing. You can give it. And we saw that a bit more than against West Ham, didn't we? You can kind of go like in Tushal. Well done. Hogan, Nishnaf, and it's a nice get rid of it. They were in the tunnel by all means. I don't expect them to hate them. I don't think it's a hatred. I think it's more of a respect for your own fan base. Or if it's been a defeat. If you win and they come up to you, those players to hug you then, that's all. But think of where you are. Do you know what I mean? That's just me. I think a lot of people think like that. I think a lot of people think like that. Your teammates and national team and all that. People don't want to see that. You don't want to see that on the pitch. It's out of the shot. Go down the tunnel or the players lounge or whatever there is. People don't want to see that. It's not needed. Go and see your own fans and get off the pitch. That's what I like. But obviously we did have all that with Wenger and Alex Ferguson. Them games, obviously, you think of King, BBR and all that. There's a lot more of a civilised air in the play. There are two rivals and they never really bad mouth. We don't get the old Benitez facts. That was one minute for a few years. Ferguson knew how to wind everybody up. Kevin Keegan. I love it. Ferguson was the master of getting in people's heads and manipulating people. Then Wenger came in and Wenger was very quiet and methodical about things. It was almost like you're not getting in my head. But he did it sometimes. He just don't have that in the game anymore. It's just not... I don't know whether it's because of the media landscape change and all that kind of thing. Marino does love it though, doesn't he? He's running down the line of old traffic when the port is out. But what's wrong? He's seen the things of where he's gone back to the bench and when he's been back at Chelsea and standing there like this. One, two, three at Chelsea when he won the United. Ultimately it starts a lot of the time. It starts before the game doesn't it. There's a lot of times when managers will go, oh, really, these are so difficult. They've been beating us 14 games. They're not difficult, are they? But that's insane. They'll never make that mistake of going. It's not like the boxers where they have to ramp themselves up. There's always like, it's one of the hardest places to be. They haven't won for three years at all, mate. No, but forget about that. This could be the day. That's the thing. I've been talking about that when we beat West Ham, and he's like that to the West Ham fans because they're giving them stuff. Seen it, Gerard? He was like that thing of wagging it off the pitch. It's one of them, isn't it? He can't expect it, but with the managers, it is all nicey, nicey kind of thing, isn't it? I think if we're being honest, certainly for us, for our era as well, is that we remember when it was Nick and people really didn't like each other. I think Wenger and Feggs, simply because Wenger was the first manager to come in and really take what Manchester United was doing away from them. And now, they lost the lead to Blackburn and stuff, but they were the first one to step on their toes and it would be a real swing. And to do it differently with it. And then Marino did that to Wenger in a way and Feggs was almost in the background going, I'll sneak through this. So, it is a big part of it. It's a dying art though, isn't it? It is sadly, you know. I'll be sure, can't see in social media in the season. I've got a feeling now, Graham Potter's going to have something up his sleeve and I don't mean magic. I just get, another way, another way, right. Bring the one now. This doesn't, yeah, but this doesn't, like, in Star Wars, right? Just stay with me here. Come with me to stay with me here. In Star Wars. In Anakin Skywalker just concretely weighs more black and then eventually becomes Darth Vader, right? So, this science, and I've noticed Potter recently, he's becoming more of the villain. Like, you look at him, he's becoming the fella who lives in a volcano. He's becoming, there's more and more, he's started small and he's got to Chelsea now. He starts wearing a black tail. He did last week. I'm telling you, he's becoming a Bond villain. I am telling you, and he's going to, one day, he's going to be like, I have manipulated you all. Good man, isn't it? The beard's helped him. He's a Bond villain, ready to come out. And soon as he's got, like, you know, soon as he's got a little bit more swagger about him, one of few more games, he's going to start playing the game. You mark my words. You mark my words. That's for sure. Man City did win four and there was another goal on Saturday. Outrageously. Good at the moment. Four-nil goals from Cancelo Foden. Riad Mares and Eilan Harland gave them a comfortable win over Southampton, so they're flying. You were just talking about Grine Potter. They had a good result. One of the first games the week before the Palace later on, but they'd be comfortably beat Wolves. Three-nil at the bridge. Cae have a Christian Pulisic and a golfer a Mando Brue. Backed her up with a comfortable win in the Champions League as well. The Champions League away at Milan. He's come in. He's got a good steady start. He's a good manager. They've got good players, so if they listen to him, I imagine they'll come strong. Although a few injuries, isn't it? Rhys James looks like he'll be able to well-come. So, no injury and there's a few other little issues that he's got around the squad. But he's got a goal score on a bad man. You know, scored in the Champions League as well. Dangerous. Very, very good player. At the moment they're in fourth place and they've got a game in hand. Chelsea, they've got 16 points. They're doing well. He's a good manager doing very well. Spears, we mentioned before, if it's a beat, I don't know. Shatty would go third, but right into the mix, one-nil a Brighton, which is a good result. I'd never go, you know, driven cross, just read, just don't have a little flick beyond the keeper. And to go to Brighton and, you know, to win another clean sheet for them. Not having... They're not getting lots of plaudits. There's been some criticism of contract. I don't know why there's this thing that people feel like they have to level at managers if they're not entertaining. He's never been entertaining a manager. He's never been to Chelsea won the league. He's never been to the side, but he was a hard team to beat. He's just relentless, and that's the big difference he's made to Spears. You've always got goals in, yeah, as they proved in midweek in the Champions League, but they've got goals in because they've got two unbelievable strikers in Sun and King. They've got good enough plays to get them the ball. So if you get them the ball off me enough, they'll do damage to you, and obviously they've got pretty hard lesson as well up there now. It's been the best out of what he's got, and that's what he's very good at. He went to Brighton, Brighton had 60% possession, double the shot Spears had, and Spears have come away with a 1-0 win, so they're doing very well. On Saturday Bournemouth beat Leicester, which was right. Leicester had just had that 4-0 win, and you thought, is this it now? They're going to start winning games, passing back a game in the lead on 10 minutes, and then Bournemouth scored two goals in three minutes to win the game. And Leicester, and even though they've got some good players, and they've got goals in the side, defensively they're horrific, the goalkeeper's not doing a great job replacing, he's not great, or he's in really bad form, because at the moment, they've lost such a big character for them in Casper's Michael, he was still an excellent goalkeeper, but for Bournemouth, Gary Awnale, he's just getting results. I still think that, I mean they're in eighth position at the moment for Bournemouth. I still think they're going to be there or there about for Bartland to stay up, but they've had a brilliant staff. They've done very well. They have. Sean Naheam, probably isn't a very good manager. Oh, the players didn't buy into what he was doing. If he's sulking and having a go, and then Gary Awnale's, isn't that an issue though when your manager is basically turning around and saying to your players, you're not good enough. I need players. The players have probably gone, roll up past these and we'll show you what we've got. They've done that in a way and test them. On Saturday as well, Newcastle, not a good win, they beat Bremford 5-1 at home. A tremendous display of how not to be a goalkeeper from David Ryan. Well, to an interesting one, he's a good goalie, but... They were calamitous, Bremford, but Newcastle, you've still got to beat what's in front here and it was a good win for them 5-1, they were a couple, Jacob Murphy, Almaron and Nathan Pinnock own goal. Ivan Tony had scored a pen on his return to St James' Park and I don't like that they'll be in trouble because defensively they were outrageously bad. Two of the goals, they basically just passed it, Newcastle to score a key time, so they're going to have to improve. Newcastle... Stop scoring, Bremford, haven't they? That's the big thing, you stop. He went away with England on a hot streak and that's his first goal. They stopped scoring, they got to be by Arsenal 3-0 and then they went to Bournemouth and drew 0-0 and they've got a shot that out for a good win for Newcastle. It's got them going really well. Onto Sunday, we've already talked, had me about the big one, which was obviously Arsenal Liverpool, but Palace beat Leeds, come back to beat Leeds 2-1. Pascal Stroik had given Leeds the lead of Edward. Leveled it up and Ezy with the winner. 14 minutes from time to give. Good goal as well. He's a good player. A good example of kids being sold on a good, enough to just keep going. I couldn't believe how many times he's been rejected to making it now because he's still only 20, I think. 19, 20, he's a big lad. Good with the ball, he's a good goal. But yeah, they've nicked that one Palace that gave them 9 points this second win of the season. Westam come from behind, I think, to be full-on. 3-1, Pereira with a goal, full-on ahead, but he had a bow and Schmacher and Michael Antonio golling injury. Great goal by Schmacher, but I mean, great goal, but this handball rule is mad. We saw Man United goal this last night game. A ball comes up, bankers on him. Is it arm? The one, the Schmacher one, he first touch, put spin on it and it comes and it hits him on the hand. Sorry, you can see, it hits him on the hand and it creates spin. You can see that. And then that sets the ball nicely forward and it's a great finish, don't get me wrong. But I think there was another one with Antonio, with handball there. There was one in the Liverpool game and I don't think it was a Stonewall penalty to Liverpool. I really did. He said it was too close to me. But he was there. The rule is just bizarre, but we've seen it in the dark. We haven't even changed Milner. That was his hand and deflected it over the ball. The rule is so bizarre that it needed him to get given a penalty for it. Yeah, it's mad. But good win for West Ham. They've back to back. They've done it again in the Europa League. They've qualified already. So again, all those people having a go at Moise, you've got to play for a 20-year-old. That's the challenge for him now, to keep it going. If he does, he'll be fine. Moise will be fine. If he let him get on with it, it was just a lot of noise. But I think Bowen starts the scoring again. And I think he can now bring on Antonio on from the bench as well. So that saves him. If he chipped, I think he's got a goal in this game as well. If he starts doing that, now they don't have to worry about the Europa League. They've already qualified. That's the challenge for him now. United. Cwntwg Llywodraeth Cymru. He said that in two moments, he scored a great goal by Alex Alwobi. His first from outside the penalty area in the Premier League. It's a lovely goal. Manchester United, you know... It's sad. Manchester said he would give the two goals. He went gifted, but he would give them two opportunities to counter the track, which is what they're very good at. It's sad and bitter. I didn't think it was a great performance from United, because everything was terrible on the night. We know it was our worst performance of the season. But when you've got the quality, Manchester United, they've got in those attack in third positions. Can they mount a serious challenge for top four, do you think? Yeah. Because I think what they do, I forget this is a team they've only lost once in... Is it that last six? Open and true, didn't they? And then... So they got battered by Manchester City, that's fair enough. But if one games that maybe they would have struggled to win in the last couple of years, you know... I think it's a wake and progress and the winning games, while it's going on. And then that's the best position you can be in. I think we saw that with Arsenal last season as well. Getting back to being flat-backed bullies. That's all you can ask. You won't always win. City or whatever. City is just... They don't lose the ball, so therefore I can counter attack them. I didn't think United had a lot to offer going forward, apart from when it was counter attacking football. But they know that and they'll be working on it and they'll be looking to bring better players in it. And they know that if they get those players, the chances they'll be able to take this is the quality. And they've doubled down on it with the likes of Antonio. Anthony, sorry, they've doubled down buying a player like him. So, I think they can mount it. First Manchester United player to come in and score in his first three family league games. I don't think... Don't get me wrong, they're not going to challenge anywhere near for the league, but they can challenge for top four. Ten hag, fair play to him. Monday night, Forest One Villawant, Emmanuel Dennis with his first goal for Forest, Ashley Young. Still going. Rolling back the years. With a level of Stevens, he wasn't happy with his big hitters as he called them, trying for them to step up. He openly admitted the other day that he's under big pressure, that filly, and he feels it. Well, he made some big calls in the summer, didn't he? He likes to have taken the captaincy off Tyrone Mings and sort of calling a few people out at the club. You know, three different ways, but I think it's the way at times they play. I mean, Catino's done nothing for them. He should have just been shook hands and let him go back to the club. But he couldn't because he was like emotional. I don't know if you don't get it, I've done this loads of times. Oh, yeah, yeah. He's under a little bit of pressure because of the money he spent. It's very better not just doubling down on him. Just let him get on. It's like anything else. You know what I'm talking about? It's like he's the manager of Southampton. It doesn't need to be this big. For all of us. If he was Dean Smith still, it would still be maybe because it might be the villa fans who are going, we want to be better. There is this weird thing with Eamon Stevens. Eamon Frank Llewpard of that. They're almost waiting for them to fail. They must be brilliant managers because they were brilliant players. And then if the results are putting them in the top three, they must be sacked and they're not any good. And it's like just let them get on with it. Have a look in a couple of years and see what they're doing. It's a strange thing because they're playing forrest and forrest are desperate for something. Villa would have better side. They doubled down on the manager. They've sacked all the other people, but they've doubled down on the manager. Got with the people from the recruitment side. Villa had 60% possession and had double the shots forrest. But then they've been to Leeds week before, playing against 10 men and couldn't break them down. So he will ask questions of those players, those forward players and why are they doing better. I mean, there's a couple of Villa players there. I'd love to have it, Evan. Do you have Watkins? I'd love to, I think Watkins would do well for us. He's one who wants out apparently. That's one of the change. I think Ings off the bench for us would be great. But I look at them and go, you've got a decent little front line there, but they're not doing it. It's an interesting one. Are they playing too many attacking players? Has he got the balance? He's probably thinking, no, no. If they're your best players, let's get them on the pitch. They play Chelsea at home. This weekend, so for this weekend, obviously Leicester Palace, that's an interesting one because Leicester needs something. And Palace are on it, full and bumth. Wolves Forrest, that huge game for Wolves, because obviously they're going to be a large goal. Will they apparently have spoken to Nuno to come back? There you go. There you go. And then on to Sunday, like I've just said, Villa against Chelsea, a two-leads Arsenal, we talked about before, United at home to Newcastle, Southampton, West Ham and Liverpool Manchester City, which obviously is the big one. The midweek as well. It's Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday next week. It's off of the league Arsenal by a point from Manchester City. And then obviously Tottenham in third. So they've gone as we said. That's it for the Premier League show. We'll be back next week to discuss two rounds again for the weekend and the midweek one. So we'll see you. Check out the 888 Sports Channel as well. Go over and watch the rest of that video. The playlist. I'll see you next week. Bye.