February 29th - welcome dear listener to the latest edition of the pod. I’m joined by Daz. Reds won their 10th League Cup, beat Luton in the League and reached the 6th round of the FA Cup. We’ll look ahead to Nottingham Forest away at the weekend and toward the Europa League return against Sparta Prague before we are done.

Part One - League Cup triumph Chelsea 0, Liverpool 1 (xG 2.28 vs 1.78 Opta)

  • Kelleher - faced 2.9 xG - 4th most in the top 5 leagues in the last 7 seasons (Andrew Beesley) without conceding. This is counting multiple shots from the same sequence.
  • 2 big moments really hurt Liverpool our momentum
  • Gravenberch being stretchered off

  • VVD first header ruled out; 1.7 of the Chelseas xG happened between then and the 98th minute. And, John Brookes with the CSI Stockley Park. Compare with United’s FA Cup goal in midweek

  • 5-2 yellow cards… some shit behavior from Chelsea not punished.

  • Academy players - culture that allows you to bring in young players
  • Clark 24 pressures (Macca 35) and McConnell had the most touches (47 in 40 minutes).
  • Gomez is third in minutes
  • Changes showed that the league is the target
  • Szobo and Darwin did not look injured.

Part Two - Luton game and Southampton on the cup

  • Luton - xG 3.32 vs 0.92
  • Diaz chances, 11th minute Ogbone. Bit 442, first half just too hurried
  • First half Klopp was upset - look at the counter pressing first not the result

  • Don’t make me angry…. ‘Elite’ Rob Edwards described the team, the tactics, intensity and crowd. 2nd half intensity was impressive - the washing machine.

  • Southampton - xG 1.89 vs 1.71

  • Could have lost it in the first 20
  • Koumas and Danns are great stories, but Clark and McConnell looked really solid
  • Kelleher again

Part three - looking ahead

  • Forest - could be challenging. They will allow us the ball.
  • They haven’t got a great record after playing midweek.

  • Team, predictions

  • Europe - Sparta Prague - need to give them some respect.

  • What else - Arsenal, Man City to win this weekend we assume.

We will be back with a review of the Forest game and a look ahead to City. Thanks to Daz. And thank you dear listener for joining us.

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