Arsenal The Team To Beat

Arsenal make it three wins from three and are looking every bit like champions as they ease past Chelsea at the Emirates. Manchester City join them on nine points, but Enzo Maresca’s side have been far less convincing, and next weekend’s Manchester derby could tell us plenty about where both sides really stand. Gary, Alan & Micah also discuss Alexander Isak’s much-needed brace, while Hull City are emerging as arguably the story of the season so far.. the only Premier League side yet to concede. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

• 0:00Speaker 00

  Your sausage McMuffin with egg didn't change, your receipt did. The sausage McMuffin with egg extra value meal includes a hash brown and a small coffee for just $5. Only at McDonald's for a limited time.

• 0:12Speaker 01

  Price and participation may vary. Promotion pricing may be lower than meal pricing.

• 0:16Speaker 02

  Low energy, unfocused, foggy, you might be dehydrated. Whether it's hot yoga, over 100 degree weather, or too much sun. Gator Light, with a specialized blend of five electrolytes, was scientifically designed to help move fluids into the body faster for rapid rehydration. Shop now at retailers nationwide. Gator Light hydrates faster than water. Is it in you? Symptoms noted are signs of mild to moderate dehydration. Consult a healthcare professional if symptoms persist.

• 0:44Speaker 03

  Sam's Club is the club for every holiday club. Guess who's joining the club this season? Walmart Plus. Yep, Sam's Club Plus membership now comes with Walmart Plus at no extra cost. Two memberships, one great price. Just $120 a year can save you time and over $700. Want to get in on the membership duo of the century? Visit sam'sclub.com. Come join us. Sam's Club.

• 1:26Speaker 04

  Hello and welcome to The Rest is Football with Alan Shearer, Micah Richards and me, Gary Lineker. On today's show, we'll be discussing Arsenal's impressive win against potential title challengers, Chelsea. City's third consecutive league win under Maresca, although it wasn't particularly convincing. Whether this is the return of an in-form Alexander Isak. Ainsley make the Nas' terrific equaliser as Everton nick a point against Manchester United. And Hull's incredible start to the season as they remain the only team yet to concede in the Premier League. But first, chaps, let's talk the Rest is Fest. We had a lot of fun at the Royal Festival Hall on Friday night.

• 2:10Speaker 05

  Oh, that was brilliant, wasn't it? I really enjoyed it. It was a great atmosphere. We got a great response from the crowd. And you two idiots on the stage crawling along was absolutely hilarious. It was brilliant.

• 2:23Speaker 06

  You know what? When you, obviously, you guys have done live before on The Questioner, and I've done League of Their Own and all that sort of stuff, but it's the first, when you try to tell your first story, or your first joke, or your first one-liner, and you just waited for that moment, are the crowd going to react or not? And the crowd were on fire as soon as we got that first laugh. We were, we were ready, was ready to go. The confidence started brewing and it was just amazing. It was so amazing. I stayed down and watched the politics the next day, which I must say, guys, ours was good, but that, this, this was, however, they did have an extra person.

• 3:07Speaker 06

  You know, we only had three, they had four, but the whole, the whole weekend was magnificent.

• 3:12Speaker 04

  Yeah. How was Stanley, guys? Oh, I did, yeah, I did an hour with Stanley Tucci, basically discussing food and life. And it was lovely, actually. I mean, Stan's great. I actually put a suit on because I knew that he'd come, absolutely. And he was, let's say, he was splendidly dressed.

• 3:31Speaker 05

  Immaculate.

• 3:32Speaker 04

  Immaculately turned out.

• 3:34Speaker 06

  Before we go on to the football, did you speak about your, your personal life again? All I'm seeing is clips, is Gary single. Ooh, I'd love to take Gary on a date. And then, if, if I didn't see enough of you this weekend, I watched your show as well on ITV, but is it called The Box?

• 3:50Speaker 04

  The Box, did you enjoy it?

• 3:51Speaker 06

  I actually enjoyed, hey, the singing though was horrendous.

• 3:56Speaker 04

  Well, that's the idea, the people in their, out of their comfort zones.

• 3:59Speaker 06

  Yes, okay, I can't sing and neither can you guys. Well, actually, Alan could sing. Al's not bad, but I think you have some sort of, when you're brought from school, you go with the choir, you have a decent amount of, what's the word I'm looking for? Harmonisation, is that a word?

• 4:18Speaker 04

  Well, yeah, harmonies, yeah.

• 4:19Speaker 06

  Yeah, harmony. So you know what the, the, the beat's going to be, you know what you're trying to do with your voice, and everyone was just screaming. I was like, what on God's earth is this?

• 4:31Speaker 04

  I thought they were exactly this. He's doing it, but he's made it, he's made it fun.

• 4:36Speaker 06

  But it was, but it was fun, so well done again.

• 4:39Speaker 04

  We should probably talk.

• 4:41Speaker 05

  Should do.

• 4:42Speaker 04

  A little bit about football. I might go back to my Arsenal by 10 points.

• 4:48Speaker 05

  Bloody impressive, weren't they? Really, really impressive.

• 4:51Speaker 04

  Especially going behind like that.

• 4:53Speaker 05

  After going 1-0 down, brilliant finish from Morgan Rogers. And then you're thinking, right, what have you got? And even after a minute after Chelsea scored, as if they just turned the volume, Arsenal, and the way they passed it and moved it, and I was really, really impressed with, with them. We all said it, didn't we, about them winning the league? Everything that I've seen just enhances that, that, that opinion. So they've been brilliant, Arsenal.

• 5:15Speaker 04

  Is there any howevers, Micah?

• 5:18Speaker 06

  No, not, not in the Premier League, but I still think in, in the Champions League, if you go back to last season in terms of Arsenal, they was actually favourites to win the competition early, early doors because of how good they are defensively. And there's been a lot of talk about should Arsenal have signed more players or not? Obviously, they went for Vinny Junior, it didn't happen. I think for them to be a real force in the Premier League and in Europe, I think Alvarez would have been perfect. Yes, there's reports that he only wanted to go to Barcelona, but if you look at the way he plays for Argentina, in terms of the way he works for the team, and then when Arsenal

• 5:59Speaker 06

  break, Havertz is fantastic, but there's times where if he was a little bit faster or just a different option, this is not replace Havertz, this is, Yocarez has not quite worked out. Yes, he won the Premier League, but when you're playing against the top teams, I still feel though, if you look across Europe with Lamine, the dream, even the way Barcelona want to play with Gordon, with pace, and then you've got the likes of Pedri behind them. And then you look at PSG when they've got Kravaschelier on one side, and the way they play with their fullbacks, Nuno Mendes and Hakimi, and then they've got Joao Neves and Vertinier, the way they, well, obviously, they won it twice in a row, they're a top team.

• 6:43Speaker 06

  I just feel at times Arsenal to take their game to the next level, if they would have bought that superstar striker, I think they would have been almost complete, because I think Zolas has done well. I think the way the manager wants to play and the way he wants his wingers to defend, it fits him perfectly. But I just think, I always think Champions League as well, not just a league, and I think Alvarez would have been perfect for that position.

• 7:08Speaker 04

  We're probably getting ahead of ourselves slightly here, talking about Champions, not even kicked off yet, but it's about to. So I think Arsenal will be one of the favourites, but I, I'm with you on that, Mike. I think overall they haven't quite got the, maybe the superstars that, that perhaps some of the big guns in Europe have got. And I do think, I do think Barcelona might be quite tasty and take some beating this season now they've got Rodri in there as well in that position. But you mentioned Havertz, Alan, he got his goal again. He does seem to score in the big games, Al.

• 7:42Speaker 05

  He does, absolutely. We saw that at Chelsea, didn't we? And that's, I mean, Arteta's picked him in those big games for that, for that reason, because he's, he delivers, he has delivered. But I, I wouldn't argue with anything that you guys have said with Alvarez, but if he didn't want to go, then they can't pursue, you know? I mean, I thought there might have been a chance they could have nicked him once Atletico made their stance against Barcelona, but it didn't happen. But I don't, I don't think they'll be far away in Europe. I really, I think they'll have another huge push because of the size of the squad they've got. I mean, when you look at this squad and look at their team yesterday, and then who was sat on the bench, who were they even leaving off the bench? And I know Mikel's had words about that, but I don't think they'll be far away in the

• 8:26Speaker 05

  Champions League at all, and for me, they'll definitely win the Premier League.

• 8:29Speaker 04

  Well, they did get to the final last season, so they weren't that far off and they weren't very close. Why do you think it is, he doesn't only score in the big games, but why do you think it is that, that when Arsenal play, let's say, the more mediocre teams in the Premier League, that he doesn't rattle loads in like Haaland? Maybe, I'm not sure he lives for goals, you know, like a true centre forward now, like you were, or I was, or Haaland was, the people that actually that is their reason for existing is this constant desire to score, not just one goal in a game, you want to get two, or if you've got two, you want to get three. I don't think he possesses that.

• 9:11Speaker 05

  Yeah, I mean, of, clearly it means huge things to him when he, when he sees a hit the back of the net, but I would say, yeah, sleeps, eats, breathes, not sure he would have a sleepless night if he didn't score. Yeah, so perhaps that's one of the, perhaps one of the reasons why, but, I mean, in the big games, goodness me, I mean, he's, he can half deliver. And I, and I guess, I guess that's a decent combination though, isn't it? I mean, Yocarez did work last year because he did what he had to do. He did score the goals that Arsenal were missing. But there's, there is a reason why Mikel picks Havertz in the big games, and that's why, because he delivers.

• 9:48Speaker 04

  It's interesting because Yocarez does seem to deliver against the mediocre, I refrained slightly from calling him a flat track bully, but he does seem to score against the teams that, that are not in contention for the title.

• 10:00Speaker 05

  Yeah, I think he's a good player. I'm not sure he's, well, I don't think he's, he's, he's above that.

• 10:05Speaker 04

  Odegaard is though. He looks like he's back to his best. Mike, I saw you talking with Haas on the little show. It's good to see him back because he's obviously had his, his, his problems with injury the last couple of seasons. Um, and he's such a creative and imaginative footballer.

• 10:20Speaker 06

  Yeah, I, I think it started, he, he got back to his best, joined the World Cup. I remember watching him thinking he's took his game to the next level or got back to what we're seeing of Odegaard. Let's not forget, he's, he's been at teams like Real Madrid from a, from a young age. So that comes with a lot of pressure. Some say it didn't work out there and having that mentality to get back to a, a big club and get back to your best sometimes is hard. And then you throw in injuries. Last season it was difficult for him, but from the World Cup, he's been amazing. I, I, I think he's one of the best midfielders in the Premier League when he's confident.

• 10:59Speaker 06

  I think just last season, he was playing it a little bit safe where I become behind the ball to get the ball, get his passes up, get his pass completion to a, to a good standard without really hurting the game. And then towards, towards the last couple of games, he, he, he started to feel something that he, he, he's back, he's taking more risks. When you play number 10, you've got to take risks, haven't you? And you might give the ball away. And that's why I love players like Sherky, because he might give the ball away, but then he'll do something amazing. And I felt as though towards the season, or the midway part of last season, he, he, he wasn't taking the risk. Now he's back to the Odegaard who we all know and love.

• 11:44Speaker 06

  And I think he started off the best in the Premier League this season.

• 11:47Speaker 04

  Talk about the Chelsea front three. I think obviously they got off to a cracking start with, with Rogers scoring so early in the game. But after that, we always thought it'd be an interesting clash, didn't we, between one of the best front threes in the Premier League? And I think most certainly the best defence in the Premier League. But despite that start, I think the best defence in the Premier League came out on top, didn't they?

• 12:10Speaker 05

  Yeah, they're brilliant. I mean, obviously clearly they get a lot of help from who's in front of them. But I just think Arsenal as a defensive unit are so solid. Uh, and when you do get through the midfield, you've got that four who work so well together and a brilliant goalkeeper to add it up. So there's a reason why they're the best. They're probably, well, they are probably the best in world football. So that gives you a great start to work from. And then when you've got their forward players. So yeah, they're, they, they just work so well together. They're so tight.

• 12:40Speaker 06

  Can I ask you two about Joao Pedro? Obviously I'm his biggest fan. But I thought in the game yesterday was coming a little bit too deep.

• 12:50Speaker 05

  Deep?

• 12:50Speaker 06

  Yes, very deep. When you, when you've got Rogers in there and when you've got Palmer who, who wants to go in there at times. Yes, one's playing off the left and one's playing off the right, but he was in the spaces where they want to occupy. Why was he doing that for the first question? And, and do you think he was told to do that to maybe have runners in behind? But I, I, I felt as though it played into Arsenal's hands a little bit. Would, would that be fair?

• 13:20Speaker 04

  I get, totally get your point there. And I think he drops deep and he's, again, I don't think he's an out and out nine. So I think naturally wants to go hunting for the ball. But you could use an example like Harry Kane would play in a similar manner. He's playing even deeper this season, it seems for, for Bayern Munich. He's going really back and he's got those quarterback qualities that he can play for probably pretty much any position, Harry. You can't put João Pedro on the same level as Harry Kane, obviously, but in terms of dropping deep. And I think I'll go back to the point about the made about Havertz really that I don't think he lives and breathes wanting just to score goals. So he's not going to lurk on the penalty box.

• 14:05Speaker 04

  Um, he will get you goals. There's no question about that. But I think perhaps when you're playing against Arsenal, there's, there's also that natural thing to try and help your team a little bit and go a little bit deeper against the better sides. I mean, he's obviously massively talented player. But then neither Rogers nor Palmer are actual natural forward players. They're more like tens, aren't they? Or forward thinking midfield players. So then there's a danger if Pedro drops so much like he did, that you've got no outlet, that you've got no target, there's no one to bounce off. Um, there's no one that's spinning around to stretch Arsenal either. So I think that's something that Xabi Alonso will have to work out.

• 14:48Speaker 04

  Obviously against teams that perhaps are not as strong as Arsenal that we've seen in the first two games. You know, they're going to cause more problems because their whole team will probably be higher up the pitch.

• 14:58Speaker 05

  I think one of the reasons you do that is, is because you're not getting any joy with your back to them. Um, and you're thinking, I have to try a different way because they're actually winning. They're beating me at what I'm trying to do. I love to go up against and try and fight and scrap. And obviously he can do that, but he's not brilliant at it. He's brilliant at getting the ball on the half turn and trying to tempt you out. But the reason you go searching for the ball and you go deeper is that you're not getting anything from the back four anyway. So you'd have to try something different. And clearly that's the first part of their job done defensively when they see, they'd rather see him 40, 50 yards from goal and in and around the box. So if he, the deeper he goes, the more on top that back four is. Um, and I think that's why he did that because he wasn't getting any joy.

• 15:42Speaker 06

  When, when I see strikers going in to get the ball in the midfield areas, I'm, I'm absolutely buzzing. There was a time where the ball came to him and he saw it first time and he, he played a lovely ball in, into the channel. And then I think it was, I think it was Neto running on to it. But his movement is so good that it doesn't need to come that deep in those type of games. I, I was thinking to myself, he's making it easy for the defenders. Or as long as he doesn't get the ball and then, then run at you, essentially you're doing the job. If I've got my line and say we're playing a, a mid block and he's making movement in and around me and, and that's what, if you, if you look at,

• 16:25Speaker 06

  we talk about Havertz there, that his movement is incredible. He works hard for the team and his movement, his short movement where it looks like he's going behind and then he comes to feet. It looks like he's coming to feet, then he'll spin in behind, not have the pace to get away at times. But he's always in the right position. I just thought in that particular game, he was making it a little bit easy for the defenders. And I just wanted to know why from a striker's point of view, because I was looking at thinking, he's making it too easy for the defenders here.

• 16:53Speaker 04

  I think ultimately he's not an out and out striker.

• 16:56Speaker 05

  Chelsea will be all right though this season. Chelsea will still have a good season, I think. I still think.

• 17:00Speaker 04

  Yeah. Do you worry about them defensively? But I think that's 19 games now without a clean sheet.

• 17:05Speaker 05

  Yeah, that's the one thing I would say, yeah. Forward wise, they'll, they'll hurt anyone. Defensively, I think they'll concede too many, but I still think they'll finish top four.

• 17:13Speaker 04

  Me too. One thing that's been going, not viral quite, but there's been a lot of talk about whether Gabrielle should have been sent off when he was lying on the floor and he, he kind of kicked Martinez in the head. I don't think so, do you?

• 17:26Speaker 05

  It's an accident, wasn't it? He didn't mean to. It was an accident. So.

• 17:29Speaker 06

  Accident. Yeah, I, I, I don't think so.

• 17:32Speaker 04

  I think we can all agree on that. Um, Manchester City, Micah, I didn't see that game.

• 17:39Speaker 06

  Free out of free. Hey, City are back. Woo, woo.

• 17:44Speaker 04

  It looked like Coventry gave them a run for their money and they had the one or two chances. I was just watching the highlights this morning.

• 17:50Speaker 06

  Coventry were very good, although Man, Man City had a few chances as well in the first half and second with Haaland. He could have probably had a hat trick. But yeah, in terms of Man City, I think, I think the good thing is they're not playing well and they're getting over the line. And for a new manager coming in to sort of stop the noise about Pep and what he did, he just needs to win. Forget, forget about how you win at the moment. Obviously he's still working on, on bits and pieces, how they can be as good as Pep's teams. But I, I think it's a new look Man City. When you've got a, a new midfield, Anderson, and you've got Enzo, it's different to last season, isn't it?

• 18:28Speaker 04

  What is the difference, if you've noticed any, Micah, in terms of the way Maresca wants to play opposed to that of, of Pep Guardiola?

• 18:36Speaker 06

  So I, I, I think they want to play similar in terms of when Pep first come in, it was all about get the ball back. And then everyone started dropping really deep against City teams. So they just dominate the ball. But what, what used to happen with Man City is dominate, dominate. And then a lot of players used to run beyond the ball. And they've seen it. If you go back to early Man City games, Rodri was always getting caught out. So it's not like they can't learn, they will, will learn. And in one of the games, they put Gay in midfield. And I, I wasn't happy about that decision, but he had to do what he had to do. And, and Gay was always beyond the ball. So when City lost the ball, again, that counter attack. Man City are always going to dominate the ball.

• 19:19Speaker 06

  I think what's different with this Man City team is they've got more energy. So Anderson's got really good legs. Enzo's got really good legs. Sherky takes a, a, a lot of risks in that, in that midfield area. And they are trying to get the ball back as soon as, as possible. But I don't think they're as disciplined as when Man City were at their best. And that's because of the likes of Bernardo Silva and the likes of, of Rodri. And people can give me these stats and everyone will give me these stats and say, well, uh, the amount of tackles that Anderson's won compared to Rodri, there's not much in it. But it's not just that, it's the position where Rodri was always to stop a counter attack,

• 20:00Speaker 06

  read where the game is and speed the game up when it needed it and slow it down. And that's what Anderson needs to learn. We saw Anderson in the World Cup, fantastic player, but he's sort of energetic, wants to press high. And then sometimes he's not as disciplined as he should be. And you add Enzo into that, who always wants to get into the box. Sometimes they can leave theirself open. So in terms of the differences, I think the profile and midfield that are just different, I think they're actually playing with two eights, playing as number sixes. So they want to get out and they, they want to vacate the, the areas that they're supposed to be in.

• 20:41Speaker 06

  But in terms of what they can bring to the, the City side is that energy, which Man City, we said last season, they need some more energy in there.

• 20:49Speaker 05

  I did that game PLP on Saturday. Niki O'Reilly got injured in the warm-up, so they brought in Enzo Fernandez to start the game. Just, I mean, Coventry I thought were brilliant. I mean, Frank must be thinking, what on earth we got to do to get something out of this game? Because they missed so many chances and they really frustrated City at times. Um, probably, there's no way they deserve to go away.

• 21:13Speaker 05

  From Man City with nothing, they without doubt deserved at least a point, at least a point. So I, I would say they're giving away a lot more chances, Man City, and that, that has to improve. They can't go on like that because teams will punish them. Be really interesting to see how they get on in Porto tomorrow night. I'm doing that game. So yeah, they've won three, but I, and that's a good thing. And you're right, Mike. It's all about winning and he has to get off to a good start and he has done. But the one thing they're going to have to improve on is, is that, is that not give so many chances away because another team will punish them.

• 21:47Speaker 04

  Now we've what, three games into the Premier League season, we, I think we've all reiterated the fact that we think Arsenal will win the league. Who out of, I think it's probably Chelsea or Manchester City, maybe Liverpool, do you think as the team that will offer the biggest threat, if any at all?

• 22:08Speaker 05

  Those two, Chelsea and City, I don't.

• 22:10Speaker 04

  Which one of the two?

• 22:11Speaker 05

  Probably seeing Man City.

• 22:12Speaker 06

  I would go Man City purely because I feel as a Man City are better defensively. They've worked together as a unit a lot more than Chelsea. I think Chelsea might be more entertaining. If you look at the games that they've played so far, especially that, that Fulham game. Fulham could have won that game. The amount of chances conceded against Arsenal as well, the amounts of goals have conceded this season. I think if they really want to be title challengers, they, they need to improve on defensive actions.

• 22:46Speaker 04

  Let's move on to, to Liverpool and your old favourite scored a couple of goals, Alan.

• 22:51Speaker 05

  Yeah. Did you see what happened? I said it, didn't I last week? If you're going to get the best out of Isak.

• 22:56Speaker 04

  Yeah.

• 22:57Speaker 05

  You have to play early balls in behind and Liverpool haven't been doing that. And they did it this weekend. I mean, the two, his two goals were brilliant. And say what you want about the goalkeeper. But the way he shifted his feet, the way the passes in behind from Gakpo, wasn't it? Early balls, quick balls, running in behind into his path. That's how you'll get the best out of Alexander Isak. Playing balls like that, playing balls from in, from out wide, I should say. And he's brilliant at doing that. There's not many better. Once he gets you lined up 1v1, the way he shifts his feet. But you have to play those, those quick, those quick balls into his feet and in behind to get the best. And his, his finishes were superb.

• 23:35Speaker 06

  He's come from a, a bad injury, hasn't he? I think you guys have had injury, Al, you've had, well, multiple injuries. And it takes a while to get back to your best, doesn't it? First, you've got to deal with that. And then you've got to deal with being at a massive club where everyone expects you to do well because of what you've done at Newcastle, equally as big club. But then if you come into a team where the guy who's sort of brought in a second fiddle, Ekotike, is scoring goals, and then your confidence is shot because of the, the transfer fee you've been brought for as well. Then you've not had a pre-season on top of that. He's, he's not superhuman. There was going to be

• 24:20Speaker 06

  a, a period in the season where he wasn't going to be his best. Now he's had a proper pre-season. He did okay at, at the, at the World Cup. Now you're probably going to see the real Isak. But he needs to because he's a, the top quality player. And when you're at a club like Liverpool and they're getting scrutinised every single week, he needs to step up. But I was exactly right. If they give him that service, he will score goals. I think it was just been a, a recovering from injury and now a confidence thing. And it looks like he's got his confidence back.

• 24:48Speaker 05

  I think with also the dislike from, not just from Newcastle fans, but fans in general because of what he did and how he got out of Newcastle. I think mentally, clearly he had to deal with that. With him not playing and not training and not turning up, whatever. I, I think that doesn't go down well with fans, does it? So yeah, that, that is, that would have been tough for him as well. I have no sympathy for that. But when you're seeing those balls played like that, then there's not many better than him. Once he gets you lined up. Remember when he got Van Dijk lined up at St James?

• 25:22Speaker 06

  Yeah.

• 25:22Speaker 05

  That's the balls you need to play into him because he's brilliant at that.

• 25:25Speaker 04

  It's bound to take him a bit of time to settle, but bagging a couple of goals like that will help his confidence. Also, Bradley Barclay obviously featured. He came on. Nice few touches.

• 25:35Speaker 06

  He looks sharp, didn't he?

• 25:37Speaker 04

  He is sharp.

• 25:38Speaker 06

  He looks sharp. You see his, you know, when they have the little numbers of the, how fast you've run?

• 25:46Speaker 04

  Yeah.

• 25:46Speaker 06

  You know, like, oh my gosh, he's, he's already top three in the league, like miles per hour or something.

• 25:52Speaker 04

  Yeah.

• 25:52Speaker 06

  And, and the good thing about him, it's from like a standstill and he could just go. He had something different.

• 25:59Speaker 04

  He's got a bit of Mbappe about him in that sense. I mean, he's, he's not Mbappe.

• 26:03Speaker 06

  Yeah, but I know what you mean.

• 26:05Speaker 04

  But in that, from starting stationary to actually full acceleration, it's like really impressive.

• 26:11Speaker 06

  Go for like names. Isak, Verts.

• 26:15Speaker 04

  Yeah.

• 26:16Speaker 06

  Who went it, and then Bakola. It is exciting, isn't it? It is exciting. They've just got to do it now.

• 26:22Speaker 04

  They needed that win. I mean, Ipswich made it very easy for them in the first few minutes.

• 26:26Speaker 05

  Yeah, they did.

• 26:26Speaker 04

  And the game was sort of over. And you worry for Ipswich if they continue to defend in that manner. I mean, after that, they didn't do too badly. But I think it's going to, it's going to be a tough season for Ipswich. But as it always is with the, the promoted side.

• 26:41Speaker 05

  Yeah.

• 26:41Speaker 04

  Let's, let's take a break there. There's plenty more to discuss when we come back. This episode is brought to you by hotels.com. Booking your next hotel for a work trip or a weekend away to see your team play with hotels.com. Each day brings you closer to rewards. Introducing the all new 10 for 100 from hotels.com. It's exactly what it sounds like. Stay 10 nights, get back £100 in hotels.com cash to use on your next getaway. It's a simple and flexible way to get more value from the trips you are already taking, whether it's a quick trip or something you've been planning for a while. 10 for 100 with hotels.com

• 27:24Speaker 04

  rewards. It's all in the name. Members 18 plus. Average cost per night in a booking must be £75 or more to count, excluding taxes, fees and hotels.com cash.

• 27:40Speaker 00

  Your sausage McMuffin with egg didn't change. Your receipt did. The sausage McMuffin with egg extra value meal includes a hash brown and a small coffee for just $5. Only at McDonald's for a limited time.

• 27:52Speaker 01

  Price and participation may vary. Promotion pricing may be lower than meal pricing.

• 27:56Speaker 07

  Low energy, unfocused, foggy, you might be dehydrated. Gatorade Zero powders have been scientifically designed to help improve hydration balance in the body. With a clinically proven electrolyte blend and no artificial colours or flavours, great tasting hydration no matter where you're going. Shop now online or at retailers nationwide. Gatorade hydrates better than water. Is it in you? Symptoms noted or signs of mild to moderate dehydration. Consult a healthcare professional if symptoms persist.

• 28:31Speaker 04

  Let's move on to Everton and Manchester United. I mean, there's, Maitland, what a stunning finish. I mean, a sickener obviously for, for United and their supporters, right? Right at the death there. But I mean, sometimes you have to just go, fair play, mate. What a goal, what a goal.

• 28:49Speaker 05

  Well, about the angle from behind, I mean, just the way he whips, because I wasn't sure how he hit it. I didn't, I wasn't sure whether he hit it with the front of the foot, the inside of the boot or what. But the angle from behind when he sort of whips it with the inside.

• 29:02Speaker 04

  Yeah.

• 29:02Speaker 05

  A keeper's got absolutely no chance. I think that was a big result for Everton, you know, because of what's gone on in the farce in the transfer market.

• 29:10Speaker 04

  Yeah.

• 29:10Speaker 05

  With, with them ending the way they did and leaving themselves really, really light. I think that was a big result for them. They probably deserved it. It was, it was a very good game. So I'm not sure. Well, I am. Man United not good enough defensively, I don't think, to, to challenge anywhere near the teams we've already mentioned. But that was a cracking game.

• 29:32Speaker 06

  I thought Rashford was outstanding in the game.

• 29:36Speaker 04

  He's looking sharp.

• 29:37Speaker 06

  He's, he looks very sharp and he's, he's direct. He's not second guessing himself. He, he, he could have had at least two or three assists in, in the game.

• 29:49Speaker 04

  There was one bit of play where he, he like went on an amazing dribble, got inside the box and then he just had the wherewithal just to put that little back flick. Fantastic tackle, I think. Was it Tarkowski that?

• 30:01Speaker 06

  Tarkowski, yeah, it was, yeah.

• 30:02Speaker 04

  Brilliant, brilliant tackle. Tari George looks like he's got something at Everton. I think that could be a good signing for them.

• 30:10Speaker 06

  Yeah, there was, there was talking about they don't have another striker, don't they?

• 30:15Speaker 04

  Yeah.

• 30:15Speaker 06

  Apart from Barry. But actually, he can play up front as well. I know he's played off, off the left, but, and, and the right. I, I, I think he's a good player who is, he's got, he's enthusiastic and he works hard.

• 30:29Speaker 04

  He's only 20.

• 30:30Speaker 06

  And he took his chance really well. He had another one a little bit later on. But I think he was fractionally offside maybe on that opportunity. But he, he, he works well. It, it works well for the team. And the manager seems to, to like him. Someone who's just 20 years old, putting them performances in terms of tactically what the manager wants. I, I thought it was impressive.

• 30:52Speaker 05

  Brilliant finish, wasn't it?

• 30:53Speaker 06

  Yeah, really good.

• 30:54Speaker 05

  Great goal. Superb strike.

• 30:56Speaker 04

  Excellent strike. Manchester Derby next.

• 30:59Speaker 06

  I'm doing that on Sunday.

• 31:00Speaker 05

  Was it at Old Trafford? Yeah.

• 31:02Speaker 06

  It's at Old Trafford, yeah.

• 31:03Speaker 05

  Big game. Huge game.

• 31:05Speaker 04

  That's a big game. Big game for Maresca as well. Obviously his first Manchester Derby in charge of City. So big one for him. But Newcastle came from behind, Alan. I thought, when, we were watching the, the politics show together, weren't we, Mike, at the Rest is Best in, in the South Bank Centre. And, and when, when we went in, we'd seen that, that Newcastle had gone too behind. And we thought, oh, Alan's not been on, Alan's quiet.

• 31:33Speaker 05

  Yeah.

• 31:34Speaker 04

  Alan's quiet.

• 31:36Speaker 05

  There was a lot of excitement. Bournemouth are Newcastle's bogey team. I mean, I don't think Newcastle have beaten them in the league in the last sort of eight or nine games, if I'm right. And then they go 2-0 up and Alex Scott, Alex Scott was brilliant in midfield. He was bossing it. And Bournemouth, I tell you, they're press. Because, you know, I said last weekend, Newcastle did a job on Spurs. And Deserby couldn't do anything about it and didn't. Well, Bournemouth came to Newcastle and did a job on Newcastle in terms of particularly the first hour. But the one, the one thing I would say is Bournemouth, like how fit, how brilliant their press was in stopping Newcastle to play. But as you know, to constantly and keep on doing that for ninety, ninety-five

• 32:19Speaker 05

  minutes, it's tough, you know. Newcastle, certainly the last half an hour were the better team. Huge Harvey Barnes goal straight after going two nil down, give them a little bit of belief.

• 32:30Speaker 04

  Great goal as well.

• 32:31Speaker 05

  It was a fantastic goal. He's, he's actually one of Newcastle's best finishers, you know. If you don't pose a threat from that left hand side, and once he gets into the box, he, he, he does offer a goal threat. So it was a great strike. The manager made the substitutions, he worked Ramsey, got his, came on, got his, got his goal. So after being two nil down to get a point, without doubt he'll take that. But Bournemouth will be all right. But the worrying trend for them is, is obviously conceding another late goal after doing so well in the, in the game. Because I don't know whether they, it's just they run out of steam, they're knackered. Because it's bloody hard work doing what they did for, for ninety odd minutes.

• 33:12Speaker 04

  Marco Rose actually played for, for Jürgen Klopp for, I think about five years at mine. So you, you can, you can see a bit of the old Gaggen Press Jürgen Klopp style of football in there, can't you?

• 33:24Speaker 06

  Yes, we can. Um, Alex Scott, do you remember what I said last year?

• 33:29Speaker 04

  Yeah.

• 33:29Speaker 06

  How good of a player he is?

• 33:31Speaker 05

  Brilliant.

• 33:31Speaker 06

  He, he's so good, isn't he? How composed is he on the ball?

• 33:35Speaker 05

  He was superb.

• 33:35Speaker 06

  Left, right, left, right. He's just, he goes forward at the right times. He's got that Cruyff in the bag. He slows it down, he speeds it up when he wants to. Yeah, he's, he, he's going to be in the squad very, very soon.

• 33:48Speaker 04

  Well, there's a, there's obviously, it's a big international break coming up, isn't there?

• 33:52Speaker 05

  He'll be a one, if it's not in January, he'll be a one next summer.

• 33:56Speaker 06

  Yeah.

• 33:57Speaker 05

  That'll go for probably three figures.

• 33:59Speaker 06

  I'd, I'd agree with that.

• 34:01Speaker 04

  Yeah, he's, he's, he's got a real talent and he controlled the game in many ways.

• 34:05Speaker 05

  He did. He bossed it. Actually, he was brilliant. Yeah, he was, he was very, very clever.

• 34:09Speaker 04

  Could he be the ball playing midfielder that perhaps England have, have lacked?

• 34:14Speaker 05

  He's got the ability to. I think he does a bit of everything, doesn't he? Even when he gets forward, he's, he's, he's cute and he's clever. He's good on the ball, can handle the ball under pressure. Yeah, he was, he was superb.

• 34:25Speaker 06

  It's, it's hard to say, isn't it? Because again, it's, the game's about systems right now, isn't it? And he fits into that system ever so well. At a Champions League club, and especially if you go into the Champions League, you're up against people who are just as fast, just as strong, in terms of the decisions they make, they're a lot better than the, than the Premier League. But as a, as a raw ability, I, I think he's got all the tools to be whatever he wants to be. That, that's how good I actually think he is. I would love to see him in a team that's challenging for top four, although Bournemouth did last season, but on a regular basis. Because I, I actually think he's that good.

• 35:10Speaker 04

  Maybe the team of the season so far, I don't think we thought we'd say this after three games would beat Hull City. I mean, what a start they've had. I mean, not conceding in three Premier League games, having been one of the teams that conceded the most goals last season in the Championship. I think they were about fourteen most conceded goals. So, I mean, to come into the Premier League, and obviously, obviously they, you know, they've brought in a lot of new players. But I mean, it's quite remarkable, the start they've had.

• 35:44Speaker 05

  Amazing. Absolutely superb. They've got a system clearly that, that they're enjoying, sit and soak up the pressure and try and hit you on the, on the break. Very well organised. And yeah, you're right, not, not one of us said about Hull. We all said, yeah, going back down. But they've given them, they've given themselves a great opportunity.

• 36:04Speaker 06

  Say it like that. I would say, I, I want them to do well because my mate, my Bernie plays for them. But I just, the stats, the stats are telling us something else, Alan.

• 36:13Speaker 05

  Brilliant.

• 36:14Speaker 06

  We should listen to our eyes at times, shouldn't we?

• 36:16Speaker 04

  They avoided relegation to League One a couple of seasons ago, just by goal difference. They, they've come a long way. Every promoted side that has got at least seven points in the first three games that have come up from the Championship has stayed up.

• 36:32Speaker 06

  Can we change? Can we change?

• 36:34Speaker 05

  They probably only need another thirty then. They'll be all right.

• 36:38Speaker 04

  Yeah. I mean, they, you know, in those games, they've, you know, they've had United and Villa. So it's, it's, it's a cracking start for them.

• 36:47Speaker 05

  Brilliant start.

• 36:48Speaker 04

  Yeah. And it just shows you, if you, if you can defend, you've, it always gives you a, a chance, doesn't it?

• 36:54Speaker 06

  Yeah, if you can defend, but also if you, if you, if you want to defend. You see the, the back three, Ajay, Egan and Mendy. The, the way they control the, the centre of the box, even Mendy, when he's, he, he always wants to get forward. He's one of the defenders who wants to be involved, doesn't he? When he wants to have them marauding, runs forward and has a shot and all that sort of thing. But when they go into that low block, I mean, the organisation between them is, is fantastic. And yes, if you watch the games, they probably should have conceded. There's been a couple of chances where on

• 37:33Speaker 06

  a different day, they do concede. But if you can, if you, if you keep free clean sheets, then you feel like you're invincible, don't you? That, that's the difference. It's what's it's going to do for their confidence. And I just think it's an amazing story, them doing so well, because it's against all the odds.

• 37:51Speaker 04

  Yeah. Only West Ham in twenty-three, twenty-four have had a lower share of possession in their opening three games of a Premier League season on record since two thousand three, four. So.

• 38:04Speaker 06

  Brilliant.

• 38:05Speaker 04

  I, it just shows you again, doesn't it? Possession doesn't automatically mean you're the best.

• 38:10Speaker 06

  Correct.

• 38:10Speaker 04

  It doesn't, it doesn't. I remember when Leicester won the league, they didn't have that much possession, I don't think, in that season. Not that I'm saying Hull are going to win the Premier League. A point for Spurs, still no goals. Still no goals. But at least they're, they're on the leaderboard, on the scoreboard, I should say.

• 38:32Speaker 05

  Malmush missed a big chance when he went through one on one, put it, put it wide. I thought they got very lucky with the goal that was disallowed. Forrest disallowed and Nico Williams and Tenali. I said, I said on TV on, it probably hit his hand, but there was no conclusive evidence that I saw the pictures that came through to say one hundred percent guaranteed hit his hand. It might have, probably maybe did, but I never saw any evidence. The ref gave it. So I always thought that, and I still haven't, over the weekend, I've still not seen any, any angle or any footage that says hundred percent hit his hand.

• 39:08Speaker 06

  Where are Spurs at, Gary? With that draw? Take confidence from that?

• 39:13Speaker 04

  I'm not sure you take that much confidence from, from a goalless draw. It, it was a way. But it did show that they, you know, defensively, they can do something, which is always important. It's definitely a step in the right direction after get, you know, the first two games were a bit of a debacle. So yeah, I hope so. I'm going to, I don't know, it's, yeah, the next game, they're playing Everton, two, two old clubs. I'm actually going to Tottenham for that game. So I think you get a better feeling that you sometimes when you, you see a team in the flesh, so to speak. But obviously, they've got, they've got to start scoring, which is the, the, the next step. But what they couldn't

• 39:54Speaker 04

  afford was another, I think, defeat. So it, it's not a great result, but it steadies the ship a little bit. And I think you'd probably say the same for Palace. I mean, extraordinary game against Fulham there. And they came to manage to win a, win a game. Two full backs scoring three goals between them, I thought was quite.

• 40:16Speaker 06

  Did you see Mitchell, one of Mitchell's goals?

• 40:18Speaker 05

  Yeah. It was like, honestly, I mean, it was, it was embarrassing, wasn't it? It's like, oh my goodness, the defending.

• 40:25Speaker 04

  What you got this week then? Now you're off to Porto.

• 40:28Speaker 05

  I'm off to Porto, yeah. I'm doing Porto, Man City. So I'm off to Porto this afternoon.

• 40:33Speaker 04

  Can you spend any time there? Because Porto's a.

• 40:35Speaker 05

  Porto's beautiful, isn't it? And I'm coming straight back, unfortunately, because Porto is beautiful. But yeah, looking forward to it. I'll have a, I'll have a look around there tomorrow and then do the game tomorrow night.

• 40:44Speaker 04

  CBS, Micah, you back in, back in?

• 40:47Speaker 06

  Back in CBS, but it's four days because we've got to do Beckham and Friends Show today, then it's Champions League week. The first week's always three days, isn't it?

• 40:58Speaker 04

  Yeah.

• 40:58Speaker 06

  So it's four days in a row.

• 41:00Speaker 05

  Micah, don't forget to ask Sir David and Sir Thierry about my foundation, please.

• 41:07Speaker 06

  Move a mile.

• 41:08Speaker 04

  I've got it. I've got it. Don't worry.

• 41:10Speaker 05

  Thank you.

• 41:11Speaker 04

  You've got to do that, Alan. I've, I've probably, I've just.

• 41:13Speaker 05

  So you can put it on their socials, be amazing for my foundation. We'll raise a right few quid if those two can do it.

• 41:19Speaker 06

  What is it? Move a mile for the Alan Shearer Foundation?

• 41:22Speaker 05

  Yeah. Donate a fiver or whatever you want and then nominate three people and put it on your socials, please.

• 41:28Speaker 04

  Perfect. Micah and myself did it on stage the other night. We crawled from there. So great stuff, chaps. Enjoy the Champions League. It's always great when it comes back. It's great. It's always big games. And look forward to watching a lot of football this week. But for now, goodbye from me.

• 41:51Speaker 06

  Goodbye from me.

• 41:52Speaker 05

  Goodbye from me. Have a great week, everyone.

• 42:06Speaker 00

  Your sausage McMuffin with egg didn't change, your receipt did. The sausage McMuffin with egg extra value meal includes a hash brown and a small coffee for just $5. Only at McDonald's for a limited time.

• 42:18Speaker 01

  Price and participation may vary. Promotion pricing may be lower than meal pricing.

• 42:21Speaker 03

  Sam's Club is the club for every holiday club. Guess who's joining the club this season? Walmart Plus. Yep. Sam's Club Plus membership now comes with Walmart Plus at no extra cost. Two memberships, one great price. Just a hundred and twenty bucks a year can save you time and over $700. Want to get in on the membership duo of the century? Visit sam'sclub.com. Come join us. Sam's Club.

• 42:42Speaker 07

  Annual plan only. Auto renewals. T and C apply. Estimate based on average combined Walmart Plus and Sam's Club Plus savings among members of both for one plus year versus non-member or club member pricing slash fees. Excludes membership fees. See Walmart Plus terms and Sam's Club terms for more info. When you shop Kroger delivery, you can expect the savings you love and fresh groceries delivered right to your door. From delicious produce to everyday essentials, enjoy the convenience of delivery and the trusted selection you've come to know from Kroger. Because bringing you fresh, quality groceries is what we do best. Right now, enjoy free delivery on orders of $50 or more with your digital coupon. Restrictions apply. See site for details. Kroger. Fresh for everyone.