Tyne-Wear Derby's Return and Salah's Liverpool Future - Episode Hero Image

Tyne-Wear Derby's Return and Salah's Liverpool Future

The Athletic FC Podcast · · Listen to Original Episode →
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TL;DR

  • Mohamed Salah's public criticism of Liverpool's management and broken promises suggests a potential long-term departure, impacting team dynamics and his legacy.
  • Liverpool's improved defensive solidity and two clean sheets in Salah's last five starts without him highlight a tactical shift towards defensive structure over individual reliance.
  • The Tyne-Wear derby's return to the Premier League signifies a significant boost to the league's rivalry landscape, creating a highly anticipated and emotionally charged fixture.
  • Sunderland's strong home form and Newcastle's inconsistent away record set up a genuine 50-50 Tyne-Wear derby, defying typical underdog expectations for a promoted side.
  • Chelsea's high rotation rate, averaging over five changes per game, is a necessary evil due to squad depth and injury management, hindering consistent team rhythm.
  • The Premier League's tight European race, with only four points separating fourth to twelfth, intensifies the importance of individual match outcomes for all clubs involved.
  • Manchester City's recent form and players hitting peak performance indicate they are finding their groove, posing an ominous challenge to title contenders.

Deep Dive

The Athletic FC Podcast's "The Preview: Sunderland vs Newcastle" episode focuses on the upcoming Tyne-Wear derby, highlighting its significance as a Premier League fixture after a nine-year absence. Beyond the derby, the discussion delves into the ongoing controversy surrounding Liverpool's Mohamed Salah, his public discontent, and the tactical implications of his potential absence, while also previewing other key Premier League matchups and their implications for European qualification and the relegation battle.

The central narrative thread is the return of the Tyne-Wear derby, framed as a significant event for the Premier League's narrative and competitive landscape. This fixture is presented as a genuine 50-50 contest, with both Sunderland and Newcastle United possessing strong motivations and capable squads. The implications extend beyond the immediate three points, touching on club rivalries, fan passion, and the potential for emotional outbursts, with a prediction of a closely fought, high-scoring match.

Separately, the episode dedicates substantial time to the public fallout between Mohamed Salah and Liverpool's management. Salah's reported feelings of being "thrown under the bus" and broken promises from the club suggest a potential breakdown in his relationship with the manager and a possible end to his tenure at Anfield. The analysis suggests that Liverpool's recent tactical adjustments, focusing on defensive solidity, have yielded positive results even in Salah's absence, raising questions about his indispensability and the long-term implications for both the player and the club, potentially signaling the beginning of the end of his Liverpool career.

The discussion also touches upon the broader Premier League landscape, including the tight race for European qualification, where a four-point gap separates fourth from twelfth place, emphasizing the importance of these mid-table clashes. It notes the unpredictability of the league, where teams can quickly ascend or descend the table, and the strategic challenges faced by teams like Crystal Palace whose smaller squads are strained by European commitments. For teams like Burnley, the focus is on avoiding a season-long relegation battle, with the upcoming fixture against Fulham being critical for Scott Parker and the team to reverse their losing streak. The episode concludes by previewing other matches, including Arsenal vs. Wolves and Manchester City vs. Crystal Palace, highlighting their implications for the title race and individual player performances.

Action Items

  • Audit 3-5 key player performance metrics (e.g., tackles, pass completion, goal contributions) against historical averages to identify systemic performance trends.
  • Create a standardized post-match analysis template for 3-5 recent games, focusing on identifying recurring tactical patterns and player decision-making under pressure.
  • Track defensive solidity metrics (e.g., goals conceded per game, clean sheets) for 5-10 matches to assess the impact of tactical adjustments on team resilience.
  • Measure the correlation between player disciplinary records (fouls, cards) and team outcomes in 3-5 high-stakes matches to understand the cost of aggressive play.

Related Episodes

Key Quotes

"the club promised me in the summer for a lot of promises and nothing so far i'm in the in the uh three games so i can't say that yeah they keep the promise and i said that many times before i had a good relationship with the manager and out of the sudden um we don't have any relationship i don't know why um it seems it seems to me how i see it that someone doesn't want me in the club yeah"

This quote reveals Mohamed Salah's perspective on his relationship with the club and manager, suggesting a breakdown in communication and a feeling of being undermined. Salah expresses that promises made in the summer have not been fulfilled, leading to his current dissatisfaction and belief that "someone doesn't want me in the club."

"i have no reasons to not want salah to stay"

Mark Critchley interprets this statement from the manager as an attempt to de-escalate the situation and work towards a resolution. Critchley suggests that the manager must say such things to facilitate Salah's reintegration and calm the overall atmosphere, indicating a strategic approach to managing the player's discontent.

"the difference with konaté is that the depth in that position is is not existent basically because they've had no right back joe gomez has been there but you know it's it's always he always feels like he's you know around the corner from an injury unfortunately so playing him comes with its risks if he drops off if joe gomez plays joe gomez just gets injured then you've got to go back to konaté and what have you done to his confidence by dropping him and so there's there's all things at play"

Andy Jones highlights the defensive challenges Liverpool faces, particularly the lack of depth at right-back. Jones explains that injuries to key players like Joe Gomez force reliance on Ibrahima Konaté, and the decision to drop Konaté could negatively impact his confidence, illustrating the complex tactical considerations due to squad limitations.

"football is always about proving every single day you've got to prove that you're in the team that you're the best option and i think he lost a number of fans when he said that and he may he may not have that mate not have been what he exactly meant but yeah that that was the one that really didn't go down well with a lot of supporters"

Mark Critchley discusses a specific quote from Mohamed Salah that alienated some supporters. Critchley explains that Salah's assertion that he had "earned his right to be in the team and doesn't necessarily have to prove that he should be in the team" was poorly received because it contradicted the fundamental nature of professional football, which requires constant performance validation.

"i think it's going to be mad i'm going to go two two i think i i'm not quite sure this does separate from each other um but i think there's going to be goals and a lot of action maybe i'm just hoping that's what i'm going to be watching on the sunday"

Andy Jones offers a prediction for the Sunderland vs. Newcastle derby, anticipating a high-scoring and action-packed match. Jones forecasts a 2-2 draw, suggesting that neither team will be able to decisively pull away from the other, and expresses a hope for an entertaining spectacle.

"i think it's going to be a really really tight affair i think there's going to be a lot of a lot of passion no one will want to lose the game and the last time these two met in the premier league it finished one one at st james's park back in 2016 so it looks really tight but newcastle are the favorites going into the game"

James Macey analyzes the betting odds and historical context for the Sunderland vs. Newcastle derby. Macey notes that despite Newcastle being the favorites, the match is expected to be very close with significant passion from both sides, referencing the tight nature of past encounters, including a 1-1 draw in their last Premier League meeting.

Resources

External Resources

Books

  • "The Athletic FC" by Mark Critchley & Andy Jones - Mentioned in relation to the podcast's content and hosts.

Articles & Papers

  • "The Preview: Sunderland vs Newcastle" (The Athletic FC Podcast) - The primary subject of the podcast episode.

People

  • Matt Davies-Adams - Host of The Athletic FC Podcast.
  • Mark Critchley - Guest on The Athletic FC Podcast.
  • Andy Jones - Guest on The Athletic FC Podcast.
  • Abi Paterson - Executive Producer of The Athletic FC Podcast.
  • Jay Beale - Producer of The Athletic FC Podcast.
  • Mike Stavrou - Producer of The Athletic FC Podcast.
  • Michelle Brenstein - Mentioned as an award-winning chef, restaurateur, and mom, discussing psoriatic arthritis symptoms and Cosentyx.
  • Mohamed Salah - Liverpool player, discussed in relation to his recent comments and benching.
  • Jurgen Klopp - Liverpool manager, mentioned in the context of Salah's situation.
  • Ibrahima Konaté - Liverpool player, discussed in relation to defensive performance.
  • Joe Gomez - Liverpool player, discussed in relation to defensive performance and injuries.
  • Jamie Carragher - Mentioned for a point made on Monday Night Football regarding player performance.
  • Jermaine Defoe - Mentioned for his emotional goal celebration in 2015.
  • Bruno Guimarães - Newcastle player, discussed in relation to midfield battles and fouls.
  • Granit Xhaka - Arsenal player, discussed in relation to midfield battles and potential cards.
  • Joelinton - Newcastle player, discussed in relation to potential cards and challenges.
  • Jordan Pickford - Sunderland player, mentioned as a goalkeeper who has struggled with emotions in past fixtures.
  • Aaron Ramsdale - Arsenal goalkeeper, discussed in relation to his form and competition with Pope.
  • Nick Pope - Newcastle goalkeeper, discussed in relation to his form and competition with Ramsdale.
  • Isak - Sunderland player, mentioned in relation to a pass from Robin Rúben.
  • Robin Rúben - Sunderland goalkeeper, praised as a signing of the season.
  • Tyler Dibley - Everton player, discussed in relation to his struggles for game time.
  • Dwight McNeil - Everton player, discussed as an experienced Premier League player.
  • Jairinho - Everton player, discussed as a significant departure due to AFCON.
  • Morata - Player mentioned in relation to Dyche's signing at Chelsea.
  • Cole Palmer - Chelsea player, mentioned in relation to competition for places.
  • Enzo Fernández - Chelsea player, mentioned in relation to competition for places.
  • Thierry Henry - Mentioned in relation to "tinkerman" throwbacks.
  • Noni Madueke - Player mentioned in relation to facing Wolves fans.
  • Fulham - Player mentioned in relation to scoring from a pass by Ryan Jarkey.
  • Ryan Jarkey - Manchester City player, discussed for a specific assist and Pep Guardiola's comments.
  • Nathaniel Clyne - Crystal Palace player, mentioned as a replacement for Munoz.
  • Ruben Loftus-Cheek - Crystal Palace player, mentioned as having noticed a drop-off in performance.
  • Wilfried Zaha - Crystal Palace player, mentioned as being out injured.
  • Nuno Tavares - Crystal Palace player, mentioned as having a question mark over his availability.
  • Scott Parker - Manager, mentioned in relation to the Burnley vs. Fulham match.
  • Thomas Frank - Brentford manager, discussed in relation to his team's style and potential relegation battle.
  • Sean Dyche - Everton manager, discussed in relation to his team's style and potential relegation battle.
  • Ange Postecoglou - Tottenham manager, mentioned in a lighthearted context.
  • Marinakis - Mentioned in relation to a seat.
  • Clara - Mentioned in relation to West Ham vs. Villa.
  • Keith Andrews - Brentford manager, discussed for maintaining continuity.
  • Bernard - Brentford player, mentioned as a departure.
  • Vissa - Brentford player, mentioned as a departure.
  • Norgaard - Brentford player, mentioned as a departure.
  • Pep Guardiola - Manchester City manager, discussed in relation to Ryan Jarkey and team selection.
  • Lionel Messi - Player mentioned in relation to Pep Guardiola's preferences.
  • Malo Gusto - Chelsea player, mentioned in relation to rotation.
  • Reece James - Chelsea player, mentioned in relation to injury management.
  • Wesley Fofana - Chelsea player, mentioned in relation to injury management.
  • Timo Werner - Chelsea player, mentioned in relation to rotation.
  • Raheem Sterling - Chelsea player, mentioned in relation to rotation.
  • Mykhailo Mudryk - Chelsea player, mentioned in relation to rotation.
  • Armando Broja - Chelsea player, mentioned in relation to rotation.
  • Enzo Maresca - Chelsea manager, discussed in relation to rotation and team management.
  • Mauricio Pochettino - Former Chelsea manager, mentioned in relation to rotation.
  • Eddie Howe - Newcastle manager, discussed in relation to reputation with Sunderland supporters.
  • David Moyes - West Ham manager, discussed in relation to his record at Stamford Bridge.
  • Jairo Riedewald - Everton player, mentioned as a departure.
  • Arnaut Danjuma - Everton player, mentioned as a player who has struggled for game time.
  • James Maddison - Tottenham player, mentioned in relation to the team's performance.
  • Dejan Kulusevski - Tottenham player, mentioned in relation to the team's performance.
  • Cristian Romero - Tottenham player, mentioned in relation to the team's performance.
  • Pape Matar Sarr - Tottenham player, mentioned in relation to the team's performance.
  • Yves Bissouma - Tottenham player, mentioned in relation to the team's performance.
  • Destiny Udogie - Tottenham player, mentioned in relation to the team's performance.
  • Micky van de Ven - Tottenham player, mentioned in relation to the team's performance.
  • Guglielmo Vicario - Tottenham goalkeeper, mentioned in relation to the team's performance.
  • Jean-Philippe Mateta - Crystal Palace player, mentioned in relation to performance.
  • Eberechi Eze - Crystal Palace player, mentioned in relation to performance.
  • Michael Olise - Crystal Palace player, mentioned in relation to performance.
  • Joachim Andersen - Crystal Palace player, mentioned in relation to performance.
  • Marc Guéhi - Crystal Palace player, mentioned in relation to performance.
  • Tyrick Mitchell - Crystal Palace player, mentioned in relation to performance.
  • Dean Henderson - Crystal Palace goalkeeper, mentioned in relation to performance.
  • Odsonne Édouard - Crystal Palace player, mentioned in relation to performance.
  • Jean-Philippe Mateta - Crystal Palace player, mentioned in relation to performance.
  • Eberechi Eze - Crystal Palace player, mentioned in relation to performance.
  • Michael Olise - Crystal Palace player, mentioned in relation to performance.
  • Joachim Andersen - Crystal Palace player, mentioned in relation to performance.
  • Marc Guéhi - Crystal Palace player, mentioned in relation to performance.
  • Tyrick Mitchell - Crystal Palace player, mentioned in relation to performance.
  • Dean Henderson - Crystal Palace goalkeeper, mentioned in relation to performance.
  • Odsonne Édouard - Crystal Palace player, mentioned in relation to performance.
  • Cheick Doucouré - Crystal Palace player, mentioned in relation to performance.
  • Will Hughes - Crystal Palace player, mentioned in relation to performance.
  • Jefferson Lerma - Crystal Palace player, mentioned in relation to performance.
  • Adam Wharton - Crystal Palace player, mentioned in relation to performance.
  • Matheus França - Crystal Palace player, mentioned in relation to performance.
  • Daniel Muñoz - Crystal Palace player, mentioned as being out injured.
  • Nathaniel Klein - Crystal Palace player, mentioned as a replacement for Munoz.
  • Ruben Hamri - Mentioned as a better analyst of the game.
  • Nuno Espirito Santo - Nottingham Forest manager, mentioned in relation to his appointment.
  • Steve Cooper - Former Nottingham Forest manager, mentioned in relation to his dismissal.
  • Frank de Boer - Former Crystal Palace manager, mentioned in relation to his dismissal.
  • Roy Hodgson - Former Crystal Palace manager, mentioned in relation to his dismissal.
  • Patrick Vieira - Former Crystal Palace manager, mentioned in relation to his dismissal.
  • Oliver Glasner - Crystal Palace manager, discussed in relation to squad size and summer backing.
  • Zaha - Crystal Palace player, mentioned as being out injured.
  • Nuno Teta - Crystal Palace player, mentioned as having a question mark over his availability.
  • Scott Parker - Fulham manager, mentioned in relation to the Burnley vs. Fulham match.
  • Thomas Frank - Brentford manager, discussed in relation to his team's style and potential relegation battle.
  • Sean Dyche - Everton manager, discussed in relation to his team's style and potential relegation battle.
  • Ange Postecoglou - Tottenham manager, mentioned in a lighthearted context.
  • Marinakis - Mentioned in relation to a seat.
  • Clara - Mentioned in relation to West Ham vs. Villa.
  • Keith Andrews - Brentford manager, discussed for maintaining continuity.
  • Bernard - Brentford player, mentioned as a departure.
  • Vissa - Brentford player, mentioned as a departure.
  • Norgaard - Brentford player, mentioned as a departure.
  • Pep Guardiola - Manchester City manager, discussed in relation to Ryan Jarkey and team selection.
  • Lionel Messi - Player mentioned in relation to Pep Guardiola's preferences.
  • Malo Gusto - Chelsea player, mentioned in relation to rotation.
  • Reece James - Chelsea player, mentioned in relation to injury management.
  • Wesley Fofana - Chelsea player, mentioned in relation to injury management.
  • Timo Werner - Chelsea player, mentioned in relation to rotation.
  • Raheem Sterling - Chelsea player, mentioned in relation to rotation.
  • Mykhailo Mudryk - Chelsea player, mentioned in relation to rotation.
  • Armando Broja - Chelsea player, mentioned in relation to rotation.
  • Enzo Maresca - Chelsea manager, discussed in relation to rotation and team management.
  • Mauricio Pochettino - Former Chelsea manager, mentioned in relation to rotation.
  • Eddie Howe - Newcastle manager, discussed in relation to reputation with Sunderland supporters.
  • David Moyes - West Ham manager, discussed in relation to his record at Stamford Bridge.
  • Jairo Riedewald - Everton player, mentioned as a departure.
  • **

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