The Champions League Is Back

The English clubs are off to a flier, with all five picking up three points in the Champions League group phase. Erling Haaland grabbed another brace to take his Champions League tally to 59 goals in 59 games, but who is the best pure goalscorer: Haaland, Harry Kane or Kylian Mbappé? With new signing Bradley Barcola in the mix, what is Liverpool’s best front three when everyone is fit? And Arsenal have started the season where they left off, but with Martin Ødegaard in electric form, can they become as dangerous going forward as they are defensively? Gary, Alan and Micah also discuss the other favourites Barcelona and PSG. Can any of the English clubs challenge them this season? The boys make their Champions League predictions. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

• 0:00Speaker 00

  Honey, that flu keeping you up?

• 0:02Speaker 01

  Yeah, I don't got this.

• 0:04Speaker 00

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• 0:06Speaker 02

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• 0:25Speaker 03

  Hello and welcome to The Rest Is Football with Micah Richards, Alan Shearer and me, Garolynica. It's been a cracking start for the English clubs in the Champions League. Four wins out of four. We're recording this on Thursday afternoon, so we're not quite sure how Manchester United will get on. But there's only one place to start. Micah, I saw a little something with you and a certain Kylian Mbappe.

• 0:51Speaker 04

  Oh my word, Kylian Mbappe. So I'll take you back, way back. Six years ago, when we started the Champions League on CBS. And you know when you get players coming and doing the interviews? He's always snubbed us. So I've wrote him a poem. I've tried to.

• 1:13Speaker 03

  He wrote you a poem?

• 1:15Speaker 04

  I wrote him a poem, honestly.

• 1:16Speaker 03

  What rhymes with Mbappe?

• 1:18Speaker 04

  Mbappe, I know.

• 1:19Speaker 03

  I am crap, eh?

• 1:20Speaker 04

  No, but it's Kylian, isn't it? Kylian, he was going Kylian.

• 1:23Speaker 03

  Yeah, Kylian, he's not Brazilian.

• 1:24Speaker 05

  You wrote him a poem?

• 1:26Speaker 04

  I wrote him a poem, yes, because of my love for Kylian Mbappe.

• 1:29Speaker 05

  What a fucking arselet of you.

• 1:34Speaker 04

  But then he finally came on the show after six years. And when he came on, I know I was a little bit over excited. Exaggerated, maybe a little bit, but I just thought it about the show. And of course, all the videos have gone viral and he's just amazing.

• 1:51Speaker 05

  Just tell me one thing, Micah.

• 1:53Speaker 04

  Go on.

• 1:53Speaker 05

  You know that dull, boring celebration of mine you've seen 422 times? Did I see you do that around the studio?

• 2:00Speaker 04

  You know what I did it? I thought, oh my God. Yeah, and the only reason why I did it is because when you're in the studio, you've got all your mics, don't you? Someone handles holding the mics. And you were like, oh my God, I'm doing a Shearer. I thought, I didn't think, I was like, oh my.

• 2:17Speaker 05

  See, you can eventually get to it, it works. You see the more you talk about it, you just, you had to do it.

• 2:23Speaker 03

  So what did you say that made you so excited?

• 2:25Speaker 04

  So yes, as we go on, we have a segment at the end of every show, the interviews. We ask all the players, managers, whoever it may be, who's the favourite on the show? It's probably out of me and Thierry. There's me, Kane, Jamie, Thierry. And Thierry's probably number one. I mean, living legend, et cetera, et cetera. But the main man himself said me, big meeks.

• 2:51Speaker 03

  Did he?

• 2:52Speaker 04

  I was his favourite on this show, so I can retire now, I'm done. What more do I need to accomplish? I've done a World Cup final, I've done a Euros final, I've done six or seven Champions League. I've worked for Match of the Day, I've done Super Sunday, I've done League of the Road. I've got a number one podcast in the world. So what more can I do? What more do I need to do in life, guys?

• 3:14Speaker 05

  Micah, you're my favourite too as well. Just, you and Gaz, you're my favourite as well.

• 3:21Speaker 03

  I saw you did a little thing and you chose Micah ahead of me.

• 3:26Speaker 05

  I just said for the night out, Gaz, that was all.

• 3:28Speaker 03

  Yeah, you did. I mean, you covered your arse a little bit, a little bit there. But Kylian said the same thing to me when I saw him as well, so. He didn't actually, he didn't. Alan, why are you wearing a captain's armband?

• 3:41Speaker 05

  Yeah, I'm in my golf gear, I'm ready to go. I'm at Loch Lomond, I am.

• 3:46Speaker 03

  And you were in Porto, how was it?

• 3:48Speaker 05

  I was in beautiful Porto. Wasn't such a great game, but Man City got the job done without playing particularly well. Never in any danger, I thought Porto were pretty poor.

• 3:57Speaker 03

  Have you upset a few Manchester City fans on social media, Alan?

• 4:00Speaker 05

  Yeah, a bit of a pop, because they went 1-0 up and then they just went all sloppy and given silly passes away. Couple of chances, Donnarumma made an error, nearly got punished. I just said, well, they didn't play that well. And it just wasn't a great game, but any win in football is great. But to go away from home in the Champions League and win is what I said. But they didn't have to play well to do it.

• 4:23Speaker 03

  The interesting thing is on that, I always think, is that supporters themselves of their own team will slag them off and slag their own players off. It's a bit like your children, isn't it?

• 4:32Speaker 05

  Yeah.

• 4:33Speaker 03

  You like give them a good telling off on occasions, but if somebody else criticises your team in any way, shape or form, you get all sort of kind of defensive and a bit protective, do you not think? And I think that's the same with football.

• 4:46Speaker 05

  It is, it's absolutely right, yeah. They'd probably say they didn't play that well, but it was a great result. But when someone else says it, then they'll have a pop.

• 4:53Speaker 03

  But Haaland again, another, another two. I mean, he went very close with a couple of headers in the first half, didn't he?

• 4:59Speaker 05

  Yeah, is it 59 in 59 games now in the Champions League?

• 5:03Speaker 03

  It's just nuts, isn't it?

• 5:04Speaker 05

  Wow, that is, I mean, it's just incredible, the stats. And you're right, yeah, he had, he got his two, but he missed two or three big chances in the first half. So he could have had four or five, but just outstanding he is, he's just incredible.

• 5:17Speaker 04

  Could I ask you two, in terms of goal scoring, I'm not talking around all round play.

• 5:22Speaker 03

  No, no.

• 5:22Speaker 04

  Where would you put him in terms of just goal scoring? All the eras that you've watched and you've played in. Obviously, you two were top goal scorers. Is he better than you two at just goal scoring?

• 5:36Speaker 05

  Do you know what? I said, I was having a conversation with the day about how great centre forwards are and who's been brilliant and whatever, whatever. I would fancy myself to get 40 or 50 in that team. I mean, he's an amazing player, I love him, I'm a huge fan of his. But I reckon I could get 40 or 50 in that team this season, the way they create for it.

• 5:54Speaker 03

  Even now, Al?

• 5:55Speaker 05

  Well, no, yeah, I wish. And I'll tell you what is noticeable this season with Man City. Balls earlier into the box for him, without a doubt. Semenyo on the, he played on the left. I reckon seven or eight times in the first half an hour of that game, moved the ball on his right foot and tried to whip it in for Haaland early. So many more early balls coming in for him, which was at will, which I think he'll get more because of that.

• 6:20Speaker 03

  Micah, did you notice how the only other striker that he compared Haaland to was himself?

• 6:27Speaker 05

  He has to, he has to, come on.

• 6:29Speaker 03

  Well, he has to, but you know, about where does he stand?

• 6:33Speaker 04

  In all the eras that you've seen.

• 6:35Speaker 03

  In all the eras of football. And he only talked about himself.

• 6:38Speaker 05

  How many would you score in that team, Linica?

• 6:40Speaker 03

  Oh, a lot, a lot, of course.

• 6:43Speaker 05

  You'd get four or 50.

• 6:44Speaker 03

  And also, it's impossible to compare from the era now to them, because obviously so many law changes are so much more advantageous towards strikers and the way the game's played generally and law changes, et cetera. So I think it's difficult, but I would say if you just talk about pure goal scoring, I,

• 7:05Speaker 03

  I mean, his power and his height would give him certainly an edge over me. I see a lot of similarities in his game with my game, because I was very much a penalty box player, which he is as well. But he's kind of a bigger, stronger, probably quicker once he gets going, although I would definitely have been quicker off the mark. So I'd put him ahead of me, because his numbers were that. And he's also only just coming into his absolute prime.

• 7:32Speaker 05

  Yeah.

• 7:32Speaker 03

  I think it's easier to have the debate about who's playing currently the best absolute goal scorer in the world. And it would have to be between him, Mbappe and Kane, wouldn't it?

• 7:42Speaker 05

  Kane, yeah.

• 7:43Speaker 03

  Because, you know, Harry does more than just score goals. So I mean, he's, I mean, he's extraordinary, isn't he? And he's now favourite, I see, for the Ballon d'Or. I mean, he's got so much game, Harry, but he's not necessarily a kind of just a box player. Kylian Mbappe's turned himself into an out and out goal scorer. He was a wide player, now he's a nine and he's absolutely brilliant at it. So, you know, we talk often, don't we, about we're a bit of a dying breed, Al? But it is quite encouraging to see that there are not that many in the world, but there are some great.

• 8:15Speaker 05

  Absolute top ones, haven't you?

• 8:17Speaker 03

  There are some, yeah.

• 8:17Speaker 04

  Yeah, but Haaland's incredible, because if you look at the goals he scored at Salzburg, and you look at the goals he scored at Dortmund, everyone was saying he can only score a certain type of goal. But if you actually look at his movement now, Gary mentioned his height as well. He's got that to his advantage. I just think he's sensational.

• 8:39Speaker 05

  Unbelievable.

• 8:39Speaker 04

  He's unbelievable, in terms of goal scoring.

• 8:42Speaker 05

  But he's not bothered whether he touches the ball or not, he just wants the ball in the box?

• 8:45Speaker 03

  I just love how relaxed he is in his game. He shows how much he enjoys it and he just loves, but I mean, anyone would love playing if you could score as many goals as him. But having said, even when he misses, you can see a kind of wry smile sometimes. And he doesn't beat himself up. He goes on and he knows that next time that something will come along and it'll put it away. And I think that's, the game against Porto was a perfect example of how not to let missing a chance get the better of you. And that's what you've got to do as a striker, Al.

• 9:18Speaker 04

  Just quickly on the game, Gaz, I thought Bouadi was outstanding.

• 9:23Speaker 03

  Great start, what a talent, my word.

• 9:25Speaker 04

  Obviously, Al had his concern in terms of Man City and how they played. But if you look at the structure of the team in the first three games in the Premier League, I didn't particularly like what I saw in terms of structure. And Bouadi, I said in one of the earlier pods about trusting an 18 year old in that position to try and replace someone like Rodri, who had a fantastic start for Barcelona, by the way.

• 9:48Speaker 03

  Of course he did.

• 9:49Speaker 04

  But just, I could only count one time he gave the ball away once away. He got caught on it, but he's got really good feet and he was disciplined. The thing about I said about Man City, Anderson, he wants to go. Enzo, he wants to go, they want to flood the box. But in terms of that player who is happy to sit, break up play, but also good on the ball, I see really positive signs for Man City going forward now.

• 10:14Speaker 03

  I mean, it's silly to say, but he's got a bit of Rodri about him, doesn't he? He's so confident in possession and he's, he just sits in that, he just sees things.

• 10:23Speaker 05

  Unbelievable options in there now as well with Fernandez, they brought Kovacic on. Elliot Anderson, Bouadi.

• 10:30Speaker 03

  Really good start from Maresca, Micah.

• 10:32Speaker 04

  Yeah, when a new manager comes in, especially when you're replacing Pep, which we've talked about on the last part, you just want to start well. He knows there's things that he can improve on. There's a certain way he wants to play. They look more aggressive on the press. It looks like they're trying to get the ball into the box a lot earlier. And he's going to find it difficult, but even in that transition, trying to play the way he wants to play, he's still winning. And that helps. You know it'd be doom and gloom if he wouldn't have won against Porto or would have lost some of them games in the Premier League. But to win four out of four, it's a great start for him.

• 11:09Speaker 05

  They played really well against Palace, but Bournemouth, they perhaps got away with it. Coventry, I thought they were fortunate last week. So it has to be a good sign that they're winning without playing particularly well.

• 11:20Speaker 03

  City fans will be on you again now.

• 11:23Speaker 03

  Got PSG next.

• 11:25Speaker 04

  Oh, what a game that's gonna be.

• 11:27Speaker 03

  That would be PSG. They got off to a decent start, as you'd expect with the opposition. Hat-trick for Ferran Torres, but great start too for Aston Villa to win away from home. Decent game of football, couple of good goals in that one. I love John McGinn's finish.

• 11:40Speaker 04

  Can we talk about John McGinn though?

• 11:42Speaker 03

  I mentioned him.

• 11:42Speaker 04

  Yeah, but I just, I just, I just feel as though he's the most underrated player in European football. What more does he have to do to get his flowers? He could play on the left, he could play on the right. He's a midfielder. He's a number eight slash number six by trade, but you put him anywhere and he performs at a top level. Scores important goals. He works so hard for the team. He speaks so well. He's honest. He's won trophies at the. What more do people want from him? He's, he's a top player. He's really top player.

• 12:14Speaker 05

  Brilliant for Villa, you know, what a start to the Champions League, you know, because after the start of the season, to go away and get three points as they have done. Am I right in saying, was it nine, was it nine points were able to get you into the playoffs at 16 in the top eight last year? In terms of the Champions League format, something like that. So three points already is massive for Villa.

• 12:36Speaker 03

  Yeah, but the youngster, George Hemmings, I'd not seen much of him. Obviously he's only 19 years old. He's been getting a few minutes and I thought, I thought he was really good.

• 12:46Speaker 04

  Played in the, the Super Cup, didn't he?

• 12:48Speaker 03

  Hmm.

• 12:48Speaker 04

  And he looked really good. And you don't want to, sort of young players, you look at them and yes, you want them to make the right decisions, but have they got the confidence? He does his defensive work, but he's also happy to go one on one. The timing of his runs is also very good as well. And the manager obviously trusts him, played in these big games. He's, he's a real talent. And if the manager's playing you week in, week out, it just shows you how good it is. Long may it continue because he looks like a real star in the future.

• 13:20Speaker 03

  We mentioned number nine. It's important for Nicholas Jackson, I think, to get a goal out. It always helps the confidence at a new club. We know he's a little bit inconsistent over the years, you know, with Ollie Watkins leaving, they'll, they'll be very reliant on someone. And he's like massive for his confidence.

• 13:37Speaker 05

  Yeah, I mean, I, I guess it was tough for them in the way it happened with, with Ollie leaving and the way he did, getting them in quickly. And you know what it's like, you're right. The, the longer you don't score, the, the more difficult it becomes. So yeah, that'll be for his confidence. It'll be huge, yeah, going forward.

• 13:53Speaker 04

  I'm, I'm going to say something quite controversial here.

• 13:56Speaker 03

  Oh, oh.

• 13:57Speaker 04

  I think Jackson's absolutely amazing.

• 13:59Speaker 03

  Is that controversial?

• 14:01Speaker 04

  Yes, because Chelsea didn't keep him, did they? He goes to Bayern. Obviously he's not going to play ahead of Harry Kane. But watch his hold-up play. Watch his movement. You guys are strikers. It's just that little bit at the end, that composure. Obviously he's got his goal.

• 14:15Speaker 03

  That's quite important for a striker though, Mike.

• 14:17Speaker 04

  It's important, but we get sent a stat part every week from the companies that we work with. And everyone's just fascinated with stats and it's goals or assists or whatever. But if you actually, if you use your eyes to watch the game, he's got so much ability on the ball. His touch around the corner, his awareness, when to, to, to run in behind, when to drop deep, link up. He's got everything. He's just. If he could work with one of you two on just finishing, that composure, when it gets into that final third, I think he could be one of the top strikers in Europe. That's how highly I, I rate him. And I think.

• 14:56Speaker 05

  I think it's definitely in there. It's definitely in there. It's just the inconsistency which stops him going, I think, to the, to the next level. There's a, there's a player in there. It's just, can he do it every single week? That's the only thing you would say.

• 15:09Speaker 03

  It's raw talent and it's just sometimes whether you can turn that, um, into consistent ability to, to finish. And you talk about, he's like, gets a little bit excited in front of goal. That is obviously the most important thing. So he's, I totally agree. He's quick, he's doing, he can hold it. He knows, he, he moves well. It was just that final thing, but that is also the most important thing. You've got to have a calmness to you, I think, in front of goals. Uh, but it's a good start for him.

• 15:40Speaker 04

  His debut season though at Chelsea, didn't he get some like 14, 14 Premier League goals? I'm sure, I'm sure he got something like that.

• 15:47Speaker 03

  Well, 14 Premier League goals for me would be a disaster.

• 15:50Speaker 04

  In a, in your first season, in your first season, in, in a club that's going through change. And he's only was, he came to Chelsea when he was 21, 22?

• 16:02Speaker 03

  Aye, all right, all right.

• 16:03Speaker 04

  He's, he's, he's not bad numbers.

• 16:05Speaker 03

  We were talking about Haaland and I know he's on a different level, but if Haaland had come in his first season and scored 14 goals, we wouldn't be very impressed. 14 goals, 14 goals is for me, is distinctly below average, right? If you play him regular, I think a minimum of 20 for, if you're going to be considered to be a top class striker. And I, I think he's got that in him. Um, and I think it's, but he's got to show it and you've got to do it and you've got to deliver. And as Alan said, you know, there are inconsistencies there. And with strikers, there's always inconsistencies. You will always have games where you don't do well, where you miss chances. Do you let that bother you? Haaland doesn't. Does Jackson, maybe?

• 16:48Speaker 03

  We'll see. I hope it, I hope it works. So I mean, it's really important that he got that goal.

• 16:52Speaker 05

  Yeah.

• 16:53Speaker 03

  Did you see the miss from Jude?

• 16:55Speaker 05

  Oh, yeah.

• 16:56Speaker 03

  I mean, the way he arrives in the box is great and he's playing so well at the start of the season, but it was, I thought it was quite a funny one. But he only needed just to nod it in.

• 17:04Speaker 05

  Just to go three nil up as well, wasn't it?

• 17:06Speaker 03

  Yeah.

• 17:07Speaker 04

  That pissed me off, that dude. Cause he had two, he had two.

• 17:10Speaker 03

  Yeah, he had another one that was, the keeper got back to double save, didn't he?

• 17:14Speaker 04

  It's in my fantasy. I had him captain.

• 17:16Speaker 03

  Is there a Champions League fantasy?

• 17:18Speaker 04

  Champions League, hey, I've got my, a little plug, Champions League, yeah, you waiting for Champions League? Yeah, big big sleeve.

• 17:24Speaker 03

  Well, we know what Champions League is.

• 17:25Speaker 04

  Yeah, Champions League, fantasy football.

• 17:27Speaker 03

  Oh, so you're, you're, I've seen that on social. So that is for Champions League only.

• 17:32Speaker 04

  Champions League only.

• 17:34Speaker 03

  Yeah, I didn't really, obviously I didn't want to look at your team.

• 17:38Speaker 03

  And you're doing all right in your own league, Micah?

• 17:40Speaker 04

  I would have done if Bellingham would have put them in.

• 17:43Speaker 05

  Did you see his response to his, uh, was it his Instagram afterwards saying, what the fuck was I doing? Or what, what, sorry about the miss, yeah?

• 17:50Speaker 03

  I did. I mean, he's had a cracking start to the season. I saw Trent played in midfield as well, which is interesting.

• 17:56Speaker 04

  Did you see the whole game or did you just see the highlights of it?

• 17:59Speaker 03

  I was flicking around.

• 18:00Speaker 04

  The game was strange.

• 18:01Speaker 03

  Yeah.

• 18:02Speaker 04

  Inter Milan, probably the better team in the first half. Real Madrid was sort of typical Mourinho in terms of the defensive midfielder doing all the hard work. And then the score at any, because they've got great players. But he, he said something, I think he said in a, in a press conference that he doesn't want Jude to defend, which was strange.

• 18:26Speaker 03

  I don't think that's necessarily strange because I think Jude's great strength is going forward. And I think sometimes when I've watched him, and I think it's a strength, but also can be a weakness, that he does chase back so hard. And when, you know, and he's brilliant at winning the ball, but he little bit like, if you want to play him more as a forward player, which I think ultimately that's what he is, he's either a 10 or a false nine. And I think if you want to play him that way, in some ways they're totally different, but there are also similarities in the fact that he, he, he's got incredible desire. His work rate is unbelievable. He runs everywhere. And I think that's Joe Say's way of saying, I want to reserve some of your energy, more of your energy for what you do best when you've got the ball.

• 19:11Speaker 03

  And he reminds me a little bit in that way of Wayne Rooney.

• 19:16Speaker 03

  Not in terms of how he plays, but the sense that each, you know, he chased back Wayne Rooney. And I used to watch Wayne going, he's, he's, he's doing too much going the other way. You want it to save a little bit. That's just a personal opinion and maybe that's what Joe says think.

• 19:30Speaker 04

  But when you've got Vinny Junior and you've got Mbappe as well, at times within the game, if Inter were more clinical, they could have had big problems. Courtois was unbelievable in the game. Made like nine saves. So looking at the team, the way they started in La Liga, although they, they lost the, the last game in the weekend, didn't they? But they look sharp. Bellingham looks good. Mbappe is happy. Vinicius looks happy. Signed a new contract. So on the basis of it, they look good. You know why Mourinho has gone there to install that confidence in the players. But I, I just thought the game became very stretched because of, he gave the licence to Bellingham, Vinicius and Mbappe. Don't really have to run back as much as you.

• 20:16Speaker 03

  Okay, let's, um, take a breather there and then we'll look at some of Wednesday night's matches.

• 20:22Speaker 03

  This episode is brought to you by Guinness. With the Premier League kicking off again, it's time to restart those pre-match rituals.

• 20:30Speaker 05

  Well, I started mine first day of the season, had to have a pint of Guinness in the house. And then taxi picked me up into town, into my mate's bar, Harry's, couple of pints of Guinness again. And then walked to the cathedral on the hill. Beautiful, absolutely perfect.

• 20:48Speaker 03

  My pre-podcast routine is, is, is a Guinness. So there you go. There it is. About you, Micah?

• 20:55Speaker 04

  You know what? I wasn't drinking alcohol for a year, but I was drinking Guinness Zero.

• 21:01Speaker 03

  Ooh.

• 21:02Speaker 04

  Lovely job, mate.

• 21:03Speaker 05

  Whether you're at home or the pub, Guinness and Guinness Zero are the perfect pre-match pints.

• 21:09Speaker 03

  Match day is always a lovely day for a Guinness, official beer and non-alcoholic beer of the Premier League. 18 plus. For the facts, visit drinkaware.co.uk. Please drink responsibly.

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• 23:12Speaker 03

  Welcome back to the Rest is Football with Micah Richardson, Shearer and me, Gary Lineker. Well, Arsenal continue their winning start to the season. Took them a while to get that goal, but they were on top the whole game. Very dominant performance.

• 23:25Speaker 05

  Thought they were brilliant. Odegaard was absolutely outstanding.

• 23:28Speaker 03

  He really has started the season well.

• 23:30Speaker 05

  Saka missed a couple of big chances in the first half. There should have been two or three up at half time, but there was no panic and Odegaard, what a start he's made to the season. I mean, it's a brilliant goal and he was outstanding last night.

• 23:41Speaker 04

  Have you got any fantasy football, Al? The Premier League one? No, you haven't, have you? Because that's what you do. You jump on the bandwagon. If you would have used your eyes during the World Cup, you would have known that. 6.5 for Odegaard. I got him in straight away. You've got to see it before, you know?

• 23:59Speaker 03

  Micah, have you finally started to be half good at fantasy football?

• 24:02Speaker 04

  No, no, no. I'm not celebrating too early because my problem is, is my captain choice. But luckily, the first couple of weeks, I've got that right. My team's always good. Of course, my team's always good. It's the captain choice that I've got right.

• 24:15Speaker 03

  That's good. I think they're getting things right at Arsenal. They're still incredibly difficult to score against.

• 24:21Speaker 05

  Although, did you see De Bruyne's miss towards the end when he actually chose to cross it instead of shoot?

• 24:26Speaker 03

  Yeah.

• 24:27Speaker 05

  What was he doing?

• 24:28Speaker 03

  Talking of Odegaard though, it just shows you with football, you know, people start to go, I'm not sure Odegaard's got it anymore and it's all gone. But it's all about fitness, isn't it? I think with him and I think he had so many injuries and he was carrying them. And then it looks like with the World Cup, he's found his feet and then he's, he's got that fitness again, confidence in his fitness, which then means you exude confidence on the pitch because, I mean, you can't be as talented and have that much ability as, as he's got and then not perform for, for a long period of time. Once you're fit and I think the fact that he's fresh and fit and now he needs to keep fit. Um, and if he does that, then, you know, Arsenal are going to get better and better.

• 25:11Speaker 04

  He's always been a top quality player, hasn't he?

• 25:14Speaker 03

  Definitely.

• 25:14Speaker 04

  Definitely taking more risks. I think I said that on the pod last week, but he's got confidence as well. I think going back to last season, it was Arsenal, it was away at West Ham, wasn't it? He, he brought him on and he changed the game. And since that moment then, he's just got that confidence. I still think to take his game to the next level where we're talking about Bruno Fernandes and Kevin De Bruyne, just affect the game because he always, he always makes good passes. He always is happy to get on the ball. It's the areas in which he gets on the ball and getting that assist or getting that goal. Now he's, now he's scored, what, he's got four goals this season? Something like that.

• 25:53Speaker 03

  Great start.

• 25:54Speaker 04

  So it's a great start for him and he's always been a top quality player. He just needs to keep it going now.

• 25:59Speaker 03

  Liverpool game, Atletico Madrid. Got off to the worst start and so you straight in the group chat about Liverpool's defence, Al, at that point, but they did turn it around.

• 26:09Speaker 05

  Great credit for the way they turned it around. They were a lot better in the second half than they were in the first half. I mean, we, we just keep seeing the same errors from Liverpool. We saw them last season. Too many spaces, wide open at the back, really poor defensively, um, poor in midfield. But they got it together in the second half and it was, it was a great comeback for them. For me to say I'll be confident they could go a long way or finish in the top four in the Premier League, I'd have to see a big improvement defensively from them.

• 26:39Speaker 04

  It was good to see Iriola get his first win in the Champions League. I think the bigger picture, if you actually watch the game, the, he, he, he wants them to press high as, as he did with Bournemouth.

• 26:53Speaker 03

  That's his game.

• 26:54Speaker 04

  And one of the goals came from that. So that'll give him confidence. Totally agree with Al in terms of the spaces. I think one of the goals, I think it was Kirk's who won the ball back in the middle. And that will give him confidence going forward that they can do it. I still think the, the back line needs to work better with the midfield. So if they're going to go and the manager wants you to press, the back line has got to come up a little bit sooner. All in all, I think Liverpool have been quite unlucky though. And people are talking about the transfers and all that sort of thing. Eketike started off so well, he gets injured. Isak last season got injured.

• 27:37Speaker 04

  Bakola, thank God it only looks like a calf injury, but it looked like you spent £100 on it and Bakola had got injured. The biggest problem I see for Liverpool going forward is if we want to play 4-3-3, Bakola's going to play left. All in the game, he played on the right, but his preferred position is on the left. Then when, when Eketike's back, then where do you put him? You've got Isak who now is starting to hit some form. So I think the biggest problem for Liverpool is one of your star players is going to be on the bench and they're not going to be happy with that. And Liverpool have always recruited well. They've always had star signings, whether it be a Sturridge,

• 28:20Speaker 04

  Suarez, homegrown talent like Gerrard. But, but now I think they've overcooked it. I think that is the thing that is going to have to get right going forward because one of their big hitters is going to be left out. But up to now, in the game, I've seen signs that Liverpool, Liverpool can compete. It's just they need to do it more consistently now.

• 28:43Speaker 03

  Did you see the, um, McAllister stuff and about he's, he was disappointed he wasn't offered a new contract? And then he, you know, to say that publicly, he looked really disappointed.

• 28:56Speaker 05

  Got two years left, doesn't he?

• 28:57Speaker 03

  I guess that's a club decision, but I think a couple of his mates obviously have got, got new contracts and he got a bit emotional. Um, it's an unusual one, isn't it? You don't, you very often hear a player come out and say, I've not been offered a contract, blah, blah, blah. Unless it, you know, you do if it's right towards the end of your contract. But he's, as you say, Al, he's still got two years left. What do, what, what did you make of that?

• 29:22Speaker 05

  I was a bit surprised to be honest. I mean, when you've got two years left, you signed your deal anyway. I know others might have got new ones, but why, why come out and say, I mean, I guess it's the modern thing, the modern day. I don't know, but speak to whoever you have to speak to. Why do you have to bring it out into the public?

• 29:38Speaker 04

  He's not stupid though. He's playing against Atletico Madrid. The Spanish press are going to be there. He's letting people know. He's, he's not stupid, is he? You know? Um, was the timing right? Probably not.

• 29:51Speaker 03

  Do you think there's an element in there, Micah? I, I just get a feeling from the way you worded that, that this was like, right, Liverpool have not offered me a new contract. I want everybody to know, but not necessarily for the fans, but it was more aimed at possible buyers in the future. Clubs like Atletico or...

• 30:12Speaker 04

  Hundred percent. If he was playing Bodo Klipps, he's not going to do the press conferences, is he? And say that about a new contract. He thought, ooh, Atletico Madrid, the Spanish press here, a big club. Maybe he's that type of player, you know? So he knew exactly what he was doing, which was quite naughty. But then if you're going to do that, you've got to back it up. And then he scores a wonder strike, didn't he? With his left peg.

• 30:37Speaker 03

  Great goal, wasn't it? That's the way to do it. That's the way to do it. They might be offering him a new contract next week. Uh, Bradley Barclay, we mentioned him already and he got injured obviously, which is hopefully nothing serious as you suspect it's not. But it was, I think it was very similar to what we're seeing from Barclay. You know, quick, dangerous. Final finish wasn't quite there. That's the one aspect of his game he, he needs to improve on, Al.

• 31:04Speaker 05

  Yeah. I think everything else is superb. Work rate, I mean, his ability, technique, touch, going past players. There's no doubt he'll excite, but you would hope that those numbers will improve and have to improve. Um, because that's the one thing that you'll say to him is not, not quite up to scratch as yet. But everything else is superb, I think.

• 31:22Speaker 04

  Another thing on that though, just quickly before we move on. Uh, Rio Angomoa played really well.

• 31:31Speaker 04

  But surely if you buy a player for 100, what was it, 25 million, 27 million?

• 31:37Speaker 03

  Yeah.

• 31:37Speaker 04

  Whatever it was, you put him in their favoured position. Like, I don't remember the last time he's played on the right. Yes, if he comes on on some for PSG in recent seasons, he might have to with Dua's playing or Travis Kelly is playing. I get it, but he's the main star. Surely put him in his best position, which I found wasn't a little bit strange, but in the end it worked, so, you know.

• 32:01Speaker 03

  What's their best front three?

• 32:03Speaker 04

  That is a conundrum. That is a conundrum.

• 32:05Speaker 03

  That's why I asked the question, Micah.

• 32:06Speaker 04

  If you go off names, you'd probably go Isak off the left because he likes that area. You go Eketike up front and you have to go back hole on the right. That's maybe what he's trying or thinking.

• 32:19Speaker 05

  When's Eketike a fit?

• 32:21Speaker 03

  I'm not even including Eketike at this point because he's not available.

• 32:23Speaker 04

  Okay, okay.

• 32:24Speaker 03

  And he probably won't be for a little while yet. So I'm saying at the moment, because obviously Gakpo started the season quite well. You've got Barclay also plays on that side. You've got Ungomoa as well, all in that similar position. Isak obviously at the present is the automatic number nine, I would probably suggest. So they're good problems to have.

• 32:43Speaker 05

  Yeah, they are. Maybe Gakpo, Isak, Barclay.

• 32:47Speaker 04

  Yeah, but even that, one of them's playing out of position.

• 32:50Speaker 05

  Yeah, yeah.

• 32:51Speaker 04

  Gakpo played on the right of the day. He did well, didn't he? He put a nice ball for one of the goals, but he wants to play him left. That's the whole point.

• 32:58Speaker 03

  That's why I thought the Barclay thing was quite interesting, but maybe just thought, I can see him playing on the right. Maybe that, and, you know, he was a threat.

• 33:08Speaker 04

  It's a different skill though, though.

• 33:10Speaker 03

  I totally get you.

• 33:11Speaker 04

  It's a different skill playing, you know, showing people line and having to go down a line and put crosses in. Back hole is one of those guys who, he faces you up, he goes inside, he's got that shoulder move and then he goes wide, then he comes back onto his right foot and slots it. Or he'll drop it left and come back and have a shot. So, yeah, I don't, I don't really understand it, but the manager's figuring it out, isn't he?

• 33:40Speaker 03

  Before we finish, and obviously we have to do what we do and we have to pick our winners of the Champions League because it's the first one of the season. So I think we should do that. But before we do, we should take into account that Barcelona beat Feyenoord 5-1 and PSG beat Slovan Bratislava 6-1. Those two teams have to be probably favourites along with maybe Arsenal, but Barcelona, they're looking a bit tasty at present.

• 34:07Speaker 05

  Clearly it all depends on how the draw goes, but I'm going to go Barcelona to win it, beating Arsenal in the final.

• 34:13Speaker 04

  Barcelona's midfield is scary. Rodri, Pedri and Almo. It's not fair.

• 34:23Speaker 04

  Now we're talking about potentially the best midfield in Europe now.

• 34:26Speaker 03

  Yeah, but they're not much, they haven't got much up top. They've only got...

• 34:30Speaker 04

  Ridiculous, isn't it?

• 34:32Speaker 03

  Oh, it's so good.

• 34:33Speaker 04

  Lamina Dream was up to his old tricks, wasn't he as well?

• 34:36Speaker 05

  So you're going Barca as well, are you?

• 34:38Speaker 04

  Adiemi. Adiemi. Hey, do you remember what I meant?

• 34:41Speaker 03

  Adiemi, ooh.

• 34:42Speaker 04

  I mentioned Adiemi, what, 18, 2 years ago? He's a player. I think it's out of PSG and Barcelona.

• 34:50Speaker 03

  I mean, it's hard when it's two years on the track. You've got to remember that, I mean, PSG have had a poor start, so they haven't won in the league yet.

• 34:56Speaker 04

  But they always do that. They always start slow.

• 34:59Speaker 03

  They don't generally play most of their players in the, in Ligue 1 anyway.

• 35:04Speaker 05

  That would be unbelievable if they went three times, or did it three on the spin. That would be incredible, wouldn't it? That's why I'm going to go Barcelona.

• 35:12Speaker 03

  We can't all go Barcelona. I mean, obviously, I think, I think it would be, I mean, I fancy Barcelona this season. I think they're due. I've got a feeling PSG are not going to win it this season and I think that it'll be between Barcelona and Arsenal.

• 35:25Speaker 04

  Do not rule out Real Madrid.

• 35:27Speaker 03

  Well, Jose's got your track record, obviously.

• 35:29Speaker 04

  In a one-off game or a, yeah, tactic wise, player wise, confidence wise, I won't be ruling out Real Madrid.

• 35:39Speaker 03

  Well, you can't. I mean, it's their competition. I mean, they're so good in it. Even when, even when their teams are not great, they tend to be great in the Champions League as well. So.

• 35:48Speaker 04

  If I had to pick one, I'd say PSG only because they can rotate their players throughout the season.

• 35:56Speaker 03

  That is a big advantage, isn't it? Although if they start, if they continue to start badly in the league, then maybe they won't be able to do that. But I suspect they will.

• 36:06Speaker 05

  So you've mentioned about six teams, so you wouldn't rule out?

• 36:09Speaker 04

  No.

• 36:09Speaker 05

  Real Madrid.

• 36:10Speaker 04

  So what I've done, you know, I've given the audience some context, Alan. You know what I mean? That's what punditry is about, you know?

• 36:18Speaker 05

  So just to be clear, you're going PSG, are you?

• 36:22Speaker 03

  He's going PSG. You just said it. I'm going Barcelona.

• 36:25Speaker 04

  Of course you are.

• 36:26Speaker 03

  Rafinha interesting playing as a nine.

• 36:29Speaker 04

  Well, yeah.

• 36:32Speaker 03

  Oh, Mr. Club Ambassador for Manchester City's having a pop at me.

• 36:36Speaker 04

  Hey, I didn't see Man City this year.

• 36:38Speaker 03

  They don't pay me a penny, Micah, at Barcelona.

• 36:42Speaker 04

  You know what? Can we get this straight? I think we need to get this straight. I have not received a penny from Manchester City Football Club.

• 36:48Speaker 05

  Since last month.

• 36:52Speaker 04

  Although I have had some niceties going to the F1 every single year, going to the games and the boxes and put me up there.

• 37:00Speaker 03

  There's no salary involved then?

• 37:02Speaker 04

  But I do not take a salary. I feel like it would be a conflict to do that because everyone then think I'm being biased towards Manchester City, the club that I love. But yes, I do not take any money from Manchester City.

• 37:15Speaker 03

  This is Micah Richards' claim alongside Alexis McAllister to show that he's now available to be an ambassador for another club where he might take a salary.

• 37:29Speaker 03

  So good timing, Micah, that just before Man United play. So they might take you on.

• 37:35Speaker 03

  You've done a very similar thing here. And okay, that's it for this episode of The Rest Is Football.

• 37:40Speaker 04

  Hey, you've got the armband on the wrong, wrong arm, Alan. He's supposed to have it on the left side.

• 37:46Speaker 05

  That is my left. Look, it's just because I'm sat opposite you on a film, you fucking idiot.

• 37:52Speaker 04

  My bad.

• 37:56Speaker 03

  Oh dear. Right, okay. That's it for this episode of The Rest Is Fucking Idiots. Goodbye from me.

• 38:05Speaker 04

  Goodbye from me.

• 38:06Speaker 05

  Goodbye from me. Have a great weekend.