A look at the latest from both the Red and Blue in Merseyside.
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00:00So well, starting with Liverpool and obviously the big one Trent Alexander-Arnold, now a lot of talk coming out after his performance, especially against Manchester United, maybe a bit of a turning point with the fans.
00:12Some seem a bit sort of not know where to stand with him and his commitment. You know, if you look back over his time at the club, he's been unbelievable.
00:21Obviously there was a big debate on Sky Sports as well. How do you sort of look at it and what's the sort of latest situation?
00:29Because obviously Real Madrid are knocking, it does seem like a good fit, you know, he's good mates with Jude Benningham as well.
00:35So it's quite an interesting situation and maybe a situation that a lot of fans didn't see coming or a bit surprised to see at the moment.
00:44Yeah, I think obviously the inquiry that's come in for him just before the January transfer window opens, I think it was a little bit of a surprise.
00:52Look, no one is surprised that Real Madrid covers his signature, but most people thought they'd wait until the summer to try and get him on a free transfer, his contract being up.
01:04There have been some theories to have Real Madrid as an inclinative because they've made an inquiry, would Trent Alexander-Arnold be open to leaving Madrid in January?
01:15Or is it a case of Real chanting their arm, thinking, right, let's try and do something here?
01:24Arnaud Slot was convinced that Alexander-Arnold's performance wasn't affected by that at all.
01:30He spoke at a length at his post-match press conference, but he knows that he'll be in the minority when it comes to that.
01:38He knows that a lot of fans will be thinking Alexander-Arnold's head's been turned.
01:43Maybe it hasn't been turned, but maybe he just wasn't in the right frame of mind because he was pretty poor.
01:48He has been quite good defensively this season, Alexander-Arnold, for all of his frailties, as in the past.
01:53But he did struggle, and when the first goal came in, it went in for Sandro Martinez.
01:59He gave the ball away and then just sort of roamed out to the right-back area.
02:04It looked like he got caught ball-watching.
02:07Look, I want to stress, it was only a minority, not even a handful, but there was some vitriol towards Alexander-Arnold after the goal went in around me.
02:20To put it politely, saying, if you don't want to be here, then go to Madrid.
02:26So, it's a delicate situation, heightened by the fact that Alexander-Arnold is a casualty product.
02:36Liverpool fans would be a little bit frustrated if he was to leave on a free transfer because he's come through the club and they think that he should commit his future.
02:48He's talked about wanting to captain the club, but he's courted by Real Madrid.
02:53Look, as long as this situation, this saga rumbles on, then there's going to be all sorts of theories.
03:00The only way that Alexander-Arnold can stop that is by performing well.
03:06Looking at Liverpool, as we come to the midway point of this season, it's been pretty flawless so far.
03:13There's been a lot of impact at the club, whether that be off the pitch as well.
03:17The fans have taken so well to him.
03:19If you compare it to 12 months ago, there was a bit of a strange time for them.
03:24Obviously, Jurgen Klopp had announced he was leaving.
03:27Maybe Liverpool fans didn't really know what to expect from Schlott's reign.
03:31But, as we are halfway through the season, just look back at his start.
03:35It's been pretty flawless, both domestically and in Europe as well.
03:41Certainly, in Europe, it's been flawless because they've won six games.
03:44They're into the semi-finals of the Carabao Cup.
03:48And the Premier League, who would have thought that they would be six points clear?
03:52Let's stress that for all the disappointment there was after the Man United draw.
03:57They still moved six points clear of Arsenal and with the game in hands.
04:01I think if Liverpool were joint top, second, third within two points of the leaders,
04:07then a lot of people would have been happy, to be honest.
04:10No one was quite sure how it would transpire after Arnold Slotel-Ho from Jurgen Klopp.
04:15There was so much made about whether he'd be able to fill the void,
04:19whether he was a good enough head coach.
04:21Well, he certainly answered those doubts.
04:25He's lost one game. He lost one game in 2024 at the finals.
04:30And Liverpool, he's still playing it down.
04:34He still thinks there's a long way to go and Liverpool fans aren't getting carried away
04:38because of a blip, there could be injuries.
04:41But I think it's gone better than anyone would have expected.
04:46I think even the hierarchy at Liverpool probably weren't expecting it to be this good.
04:51I've probably been helped a little bit along the way.
04:54Maybe Man City's obviously had their fault.
04:58Arsenal have had a couple of injuries now to Sacha and Odegaard.
05:03But these things happen across the course of a season.
05:07It's not like Liverpool have been stuttering themselves.
05:10They've lost one game and that was against Nottingham Forest,
05:13who themselves are in a very good outfit and they're pushing for Europe this season.
05:19So I don't think it's quite as easy to say that just because Man City are having a woeful season,
05:25that Liverpool are flying.
05:28They're certainly taking advantage and the precedent is set now.
05:33They've got to go on and win the league.
05:36If they didn't go on and win the league, then it would be a capitulation, let's be honest.
05:41I think a lot of fans take the league and maybe one of the trophies in the semifinals of the Carabao Cup.
05:47Obviously performing well in the Champions League, but it'll be a different ball game when the knockout season starts.
05:54And then the FA Cup as well.
05:56It could depend on who they draw after having to get past Atherton Stanley.
06:02Well, looking at Liverpool and obviously the January window,
06:05a lot of rumours coming in and out of a lot of the top sides.
06:10In terms of Liverpool, just theoretically speaking, maybe not fully based on rumours.
06:14If you were in charge or if the fans maybe had a say on it,
06:17just one player to buy, one player to sell for the January window.
06:21Obviously, it's not been a massive window last season.
06:25A couple of seasons ago, it was quite big for teams in the top flight.
06:29I think if you're looking at it, there's still that fascination with Martin Supermenzi that Liverpool fans have.
06:36It's not going to go away really, given that Liverpool pursued him in the summer and they didn't get it over the line.
06:43They went all out to get him and it would have been interesting to see how he slotted into that number six position.
06:50I think Liverpool are a little bit short in there still.
06:55They've got Gautaro Endo backing up Ryan Gravenberch, but he's not the same type of player.
07:01And Ryan Gravenberch, is he going to tire in the second half of the season?
07:05He's played a lot of football. Does Liverpool have enough depth in there?
07:09So either him or maybe a left-back like Milo Kerkes at Bournemouth has been one that has been touted as a potential signing in the future.
07:21If you're looking at the squad at the minute, I think David Nunes has been underperformed still.
07:30He hasn't got quite going yet. He's been at the club for two and a half seasons.
07:37If your joint record signing should be your out-and-out goalscorer, your regular starter,
07:45there's an argument to say at the minute he's fifth choice in the forward's pecking order.
07:51Third choice when it comes to playing as a central striker behind Luis Diaz,
07:55who's been converted into a central striker for a lot of games this season,
08:00and Diogo Jota, who's not long back from injury.
08:03The question is, is it ever going to work out for David Nunes at Liverpool?
08:09He came on against Man Utd, won a really good run, forced a yellow card from De Ligt,
08:14and then goes and gets himself booked as well after that.
08:18He's ended up now saving a one-match ban for a crew and five yellow cards.
08:23To Liverpool now, cut the losses is what I think some fans will be looking at.
08:31So either him or if an offer came in for Trent Alexander-Arnold that was quite lucrative,
08:37Liverpool might have to sit down and look at that.
08:41And some fans, after the Man Utd result, think it would be a little bit flippant to say,
08:51but should they take it? Should they take the offer? I don't know.
08:56I personally think he should stay till the end of the season regardless of what happens,
09:00because he has had a good season.
09:03Looking at Everton and obviously midway season, they haven't had the best of seasons
09:10over the last few years and overshadowed by a bit of mediocrity that they want to get rid of
09:15when they move to the new stadium.
09:17What's the situation when you look back at the start of this season and how it's gone?
09:22Because obviously they had that terrible run at the very, very start
09:25and Everton fans were certainly thinking the worst.
09:28Yeah, there's been a positive end to 2024 off the pitch, but on the pitch this season
09:36it's been underwhelming, you have to say.
09:38Everton finished comfortably above relegation last season without the points deductions
09:43and I don't think anyone thought that they were going to be finishing top 10, top 8,
09:50but they didn't expect them to be absolutely in the mire again.
09:54That's what they are at this moment after 19 games, you have to say that,
09:58because they don't score enough goals and they don't win enough games.
10:02Three wins in 19, 15 goals in 19 scores.
10:07Those sorts of stats are pointing towards a team that is going to be struggling
10:13and Sean Dyche hasn't been able to find the solutions to it.
10:17He's been at the club for two years, he's saying these issues have gone on for longer than I have,
10:23but two years is a long time to be an Everton manager
10:27and he's going to keep getting asked these questions against Bournemouth,
10:31they didn't have a shot on target, they were toothless again.
10:34It's not the big teams that struggle against Everton, they always put up a fight against Arsenal,
10:39Manchester City, Chelsea, because the games are probably set up for them to defend
10:43and keep the shape and try and nick a goal maybe on the counter-attack,
10:48but when they have to do a bit more on the front foot, they just struggle
10:53and it's no surprise that some fans want to see the freedom crew make a change.
11:01Will they make a change? They've still got other issues to sort out,
11:05the club face and the boards, they've still got to sort out maybe a new director of football
11:10and make a decision on that.
11:13Who would want to come to Everton? Maybe for the short term or the long term,
11:17but the season so far, I have to say, there haven't been too many positives on the pitch.
11:23The draws, as I say, it's still resolving those,
11:28but the attack on potency is so, so lacklustre.
11:37Can't get anyone really fired on whatsoever, it's only Calvert-Lewin struggles,
11:43Armando Breuer's come back but maybe might be out injured now,
11:48players like Jack Harrison have completely jettisoned.
11:52There's a lot for Jones Ice to answer in the second half of the season
11:56because it's looking like they are going to be in another dogfight.