Match week? 35, in the Premier League. I mean, I think
the headlines here at the tricky, tripped, obviously for
the title Rivals, Man, City and Liverpool that takes Center
Stage. They both got really tough away games.
To two of the toughest stadiums to go to from an atmosphere
point of view,
Nick Mandola. I'm going to come straight to Newcastle against
Liverpool. Let's start there as someone who has Newcastle close
to his heart. They are absolutely flying right now.
What are you looking for?
Newcastle host Liverpool because I think I already know
what you're going to say. Well, listen jokes about the best
Bruno in the league, which we obviously have aside.
I really think they get something here. Really. Yeah.
I really think they get something here and it's not because
I've seen a lot of bad games between Newcastle, in
Liverpool. I think the Liverpool is absolutely
fantastic. What I'm seeing from Eddie Howe
and the way he's organized this team and what he's getting out
of some inspired players. I'm seeing players. To Newcastle
for the second half of the season
and do things that I really haven't seen them. Do
Matt Target, looks
unbelievable. I mean, it's crazy how good he looks, and if
Newcastle had here in trip are back for this game.
I would feel even better about it, but they're defending. Well,
they've got the poor man's for being. Yo, enjoy Ellington there
at Centre, mid with Bruno
game Arash. They are
kind of controlling the Midfield in a lot of these
games. They have steam axmen as the X Factor. And I just feel
like sandwich between two Champions League games.
Everyone talks. It's always funny in America. We talk about
these three and
a half hour bus rides or four and a half hour bus rides,
which like is Buffalo to it. Just beyond Pittsburgh, but in
England, it's like, oh God, that is such a trick, but for
some reason that's how it works. Right? We see these
those as long journey. So
I do think Newcastle has a chance the way they've been
resolutely defending and hitting on the counter of Point
here, I wouldn't predict a win, but I do think they kind of get
a point
11. I mean, Liverpool play, such a high line. I feel like
that is how Newcastle can get in behind here, right? With
the pace of st. Max, maybe Al Mehran and just
it in all the games recently, even against Everton, they gave
up big chances or put themselves in situations, where
they were sewing controller games, but you kind of just
feel like Allison has to bail them out. At least once a game
where they need a last-ditch tackle or a bad Miss. I mean,
you look at all their games recently. And yes, they've won
the vast majority of the Mandy but
is there any way that you could agree with Nick and see that
new Castle going to get something? Is it that
far-fetched or is actually on paper? Probably one of the most
difficult games remaining aside from Tottenham, I think
correct.
Yeah, I don't think it's going to happen, but I can see, I can
see the formula and I can see it playing. I can see how it
could happen in this game. I'll say that because if you look at
where Newcastle strength is right now, it is a lot of ball
winners in the Centre of Midfield. They've got a couple
of
Early special talents up top who can go
one-on-one and especially attack in space on the counter,
but I think it's the central Midfield where they've got, you
know, as Nick said they've got Joe Ellenton, they've got Bruno
in there or winning the ball at a really, really high rate
right now. And against Liverpool. Obviously, that's
important. They will be a little bit,
you know, short on rest with Champions League midweek, and
then coming back domestically. And so I can start to piece
together a little factors. I think of this game that could
maybe give Newcastle an opportunity,
but I just still We'll look at the, I look at the front and
it's not even a front three. It's the front five for
Liverpool. It's the options that they have up there. It
almost doesn't matter that. They're playing in Champions
League midweek and the fact
that they've got Via Real, which is supposed to be kind of
the easier of the two. Semifinals. It doesn't think it
Stacks up great, but I do love what I've seen from Newcastle
in recent weeks. There is a, there's a
spirit there was a fight there.
There's a desire I think from every single individual
to no longer simply
pick up their paycheck and I think a lot of guys are looking
at and saying, It's going to be big changes around here and
the summer. This is not so bad right now. I'd like to be here
for next season. What? You know, whether it's anyhow,
that's in charge. What's maybe somebody else?
Whoever's going to be brought in,
in, in transfer market. This summer.
I want to be a part of that, and I think we're starting to
see kind of not just the performances, but obviously,
the results are indicating that as well.
Yeah. I think there are very dangerous team to play against
right now and you Castle. So it's that's weird at this time
to Caesars momentum. It's like looking on the on paper. It's
like, oh that's
Not a bad fixture, was I, oh actually, they've won,
you know, three or four on the spin, whatever it is going into
this game. And
I feel like those are the kind of games that have really,
really tricky for man. Sit your Liverpool to negotiate right
now. Talk about man. See Nick,
they go to Leeds. United also
need a win to pretty much secure their Premier League
status for another season.
Ellen wrote is tough to go to but Pep Guardiola side, you
seem to have a way of sucking the life out of games at times
and just just keeping the ball. And just
always playing their own game. I mean
that will count for a lot. I think against Leeds United, but
leads are also one of the teams that can really go toe-to-toe
with City and almost go man. For man. We saw that under
bielsa. They do that
a little bit under Jesse Marsh, but they are more pragmatic.
Now, we saw the clean sheet Palace. They've got a lot
better defensively, but going forward. They've lost a little
bit. So for man, city, is this a routine win? Or
what do we think about that? Because again, this is another
situation where Liverpool play before. For them and then
they'll have to make up that that Gap is Liverpool dupa take
care of Newcastle. So it's great, right? The back and
forth at this. Notice
just the scheduling of the games
it is I think that
you know, Andy mentioned righty
when we were talking about the most shocking relegations
that was leads. And now that there was one of them was
leads. I'm sorry. I'm not saying that's definitive but
now that they're back up here and humming,
you remember how big that atmosphere was? How big leads
was and what it What it is and what it means. I think this
is as dangerous as the Newcastle game
for Liverpool. And the reason that I'm just picking Man City
isn't because I want my prediction of them winning
the Premier League to be right,
maybe that's a part of it,
but
it's because
I've seen Pep Guardiola purposely in my opinion, pick
one game over the last month to kind of say, I will see how it
goes. And that was the Liverpool
FA Cup game.
They're lined up now. So regardless of what happens
against Real Madrid today, there is going to be
a completely different attacking plan. That's already been
implemented for leads.
And while Jesse Marsh certainly
has the experience of going up against some big size whether
it was when he had Holland at Salzburg or
or other games in the champions league, right?
I just think that man cities
a little bit better wired for this
just as Liverpool is as well. And
I don't want to sound hypocritical. I I do think
newcastle's in, for a heck of a battle this week, but I think
man said he is wired for these one game at a time. Not losing
focus, resetting quickly. I just I have a hard time picking
them to lose and eat. You agree with that. Do you either of
you? Remember what happened? The last time these two teams
played, not the torrential downpour, not that one because
I forgot I forgot. It was seven mil. I forgot about that. It
was, it was
quite a long time ago. It was December.
18th. But just put that out of mind to think it was the
the struggles of leads at the time, the Brilliance of Man City at
the time and still now even
I don't see how leads get anything out of this game
because I look at what they did well against Palace, they
create a little bit of chaos, put them under pressure in
the middle. Third of the field, especially good luck, getting
getting close to the ball against Manchester City. You
can, you can press and run yourself into the ground, all
you
want. And that does not mean you're going to have success
winning the ball back against them. Like Nick says,
the role already be an Can plan a point, there will be
a possession plan. In place a plan for
how to deal with the Press whether it's going to be super
high, whether it's going to be a little bit lower block. It
almost doesn't matter because Manchester City or is good in
possession as they are defensively. And we know how
good they are defensively.
It doesn't matter though. I think obviously because
the city playing against Real Madrid Eva side of this,
the school district long, but we saw in the FA Cup semi-final.
Like Nick said, when it is rotated,
which it could be for this game, but
It's difficult, right? I feel like I won't be rotated as much
obviously, but that is a huge, huge asked to stay at that
level for the two legs against Real Madrid and then go into
a tough place like Leeds United.
Yeah, I'll say you might take them 60 65, 70 minutes to break
through but they will break. It'll be one of those classic
kind of hey Manchester City. Grind it out the wind, the way
that they needed to on short rest coming from chain. It'll
be one of
those moments where,
you know, who knows who's going to get the goal,
but it's just going to be one.
Those things where
all of the years playing together, all of the years,
under Pepe, it's you know, you draw on little things in those
moments and the fact that pep has been there, how many times
in his career, the fact that this mattress is City, team has
been there, how many times
in their respective career at, they know how to deal
with this situation right here and leads to them.
Not a worry. That's very true. I can just see like a two-nil
City win foden and Sterling or something within the last 20
minutes. It seems like an example.
That's the other thing, right?
Leads aren't Liverpool
rotation. Yeah, that's so true.
But again, the added factor that leads obviously a point
would be huge for them. You look at the final five games as
well. So
it's going to be a great one.
Allen Road as their earlier this season. The atmosphere is
electric hostile and I think that will definitely
it will be really interesting to see how man city cope with
that. In between these two, huge Champions League
semi-finals against Real Madrid focusing on ever turn against
Chelsea. This Kent,
nick of it. How do we approach this point? Obviously Everton,
need the wind to get out of the relegation Zone. Frank Lampard
this connections with Chelsea, Chelsea just sitting pretty, in
third place. No one's ever really going to get close to
them and that position. So
this is a really weird game to try and prove you.
Well, Joe, how angry is holistic.
Yeah. I'll tell you what, I think this is
this, this has a quick Chelsea goal.
As the end of the game written all over it and I think so
Everton needs to come out almost as defensive as they did
against Liverpool because I think Chelsea will be fired up
to
2. If anything
look the it's Frank Lampard against Chelsea guys. I think
it's really interesting. These guys played for him.
Some of them obviously didn't like, okay.
So I think that there is a there's going to be more of a
we're going to learn a little bit more about all the positive
things that were said about Frank Lampard when these Is
Chelsea team has a chance to bury. Oh, is that is that
a weird thing to ask?
No, I don't think so. Andy, do you agree? No. Yeah, it's
Chelsea will not give Everton the space and opportunity to
counter the way that Liverpool did and do by Design. That's,
that's a, that's a, that's a feature of the system for that
Liverpool team. They're going to bet that Virgil Van Dyke Joe
Amato tip. If they, they
will deal with the trouble and if not, we've got Alice on back
there. And so we will be fine. Chelsea will not take them.
Those risks. And so they won't give those moments of, you
know, for Anthony Gordon on one side or,
you know, trying to turn to play, Richard Ellison and in
behind that's just not going to be there again. She'll see
the system for Thomas to local, is to limit all of those things.
And so, I don't see how they create chances when they're not
able to get out and go one-on-one and open space.
Because if you look
at that Liverpool game,
that's where everything
came from for Everton. And that's, that's just not going
to be there against Chelsea.
It's not. And I think I've been at Chelsea games recently.
Against Arsenal in Westham.
It's very mixed displays is a very kind of strange Vibe,
right now. A lot of players. Like we said, rude to girls is
leaving expected to go around Madrid
this summer. When his contract Runs Out,
Christensen has pulled a quitter in similar situations
and you have a lot of players there who maybe feel like they
won the Champions League with Chelsea. They've won other
trophies. Maybe this is the end of the road for them and they'd
like to try some of the bit new.
And then there's other players were trying to prove that they
want to stick around in the Thomas. So cool because I don't
think he's going anywhere, right? No matter who comes in
as the new owner. He's going to be there for next season, maybe
the next couple considering the job he's done. So it's really
weird dynamic at Chelsea and I kind of like
the old you know, Forrest Gump analogy, right? You know life
is a box of chocolates is that? And I just I feel like at
the moment it's very difficult to predict what I'm going to do.
And and I think that's that's good for Everton. I really
do think that this is perhaps the game that you look at
the schedule of the
Not last six games coming up for Everton and you think,
yeah, this is one unexpectedly where they could get three
points or the very least, a point and that helps them up
massively in
the battle against relegation. So
yeah, let's wait and see
what happens for Frank Lampard, but
I think, you know, if Chelsea, let them
not let them win. But if there is a big Everton win here
would be really interesting to see
some of the talk afterwards
in the newspapers over here about that.
Situation. Um,
Nick West Ham against Arsenal, West Ham, all in on the Europa
League. Good luck to them. David Moyes done a great job
there.
They're not in the top for battle anymore.
Not really playing for much in the Premier League. Guess
they're trying to push, you know, Manchester United for
that Europa League spot to get back in there. Next season.
Arsenal all the see a play and really well going forward
defensively. Lot of issues. We saw that against Chelsea, in
against, man united.
What do we think of this game? Because this is one of those
games on paper. You could be a To win to Arsenal. Some people
are that, right?
I was going to ask, what's the Premier League record for most
goals in a game combined between two teams because both
of these teams like to get after it and you can see West
Ham playing a little bit loose and
and also having
guys who are having the opportunity to take a chance
because of what's going on with your rope bun. I mean, let's be
honest, if you're West Ham,
I think you're all in
on trying to win the tournament, you're in
because maybe that's the reason you convinced Declan rice to
somehow. Now stick around there been reports that he's turned
down. Multiple contract. Offers. He is such a key piece
of what they do.
They have a great little mix of chemistry. And we've seen how
when guys start to leave those those teams that things start
to fall apart. So I think David Moyes and and the West Ham team
will be
rallied in all of their games before this just a, there's
a loose mood to the team like
in a sense, which is weird to say because they play so hard
and they're so physical and they're not a team. You want to
play against That said Arsenal
is absolutely geared up. Let's not forget that if there was
for whatever reason a chance that these players did not have
their eye on the top for as,
as closely in Focus use you imagine all that told you're
still trying to keep Tottenham out and that rivalry permeates
the entire Club. So I think you'll see
intent from both teams.
It's the reason I would perhaps
pick Arsenal to win. Is that the desperation?
In is a little bit more. There.
It is and Sucka, Odegaard Smith throw and qetsiyah been Berlin
in the last few weeks and just kind of, I think a lot, they've
really know. The soul was specially saccharine Smith row
and then Katia that club coming up through the academy.
Been there for a long time.
You can just tell it means that much more to them and some
great scenes after they win against Man United. Burkham and
Thierry, Henry were back at the Emirates and chat into Sakura
and Smith row and
they were telling them, you know, you guys are mind.
Us of ourselves, but back in the day and sort of,
they still got a way to go to get those levels of course, but
it's really promising when you think about arsenal, were
clearly by far the youngest team in the league, but you
look at the average age of their squad, and if they were
to get top for,
that would be a huge achievement for them, this season.
Some other games to keep an eye, on top them
against Leicester city. Manchester United against
Brentford, obviously, Spurs stalling a little bit in their
push for top for really poor performance away. At Brentford
last timeout, really lucky to actually get a point
from that game.
I don't know. That's maybe Antonio, Conte sort of game
plan. The more defensive style. Sometimes even at Chelsea back
in the day. It kind of just stifles the attack sometimes
and
you can't really get out because you have so many
players back and almost that back three turns into a back
five when teams work it out. So
I feel that we see a much better cop than team against
Lester and Lester attack more, they'll be going all out. And
they have the League semi-finals as well to focus
on. So good luck to Leicester as well
as the Premier League tries to dominate these three, European
competitions. And man united Brentford. I feel like this is
got a Brentford win written all over it man. United just in
disarray at the moment, some good individual
moments are much better against Arsenal but still
so many sloppy defensive mistakes.
45 minutes of each game. I feel like they just don't turn up
and Brentwood Erickson and boy, Maya and Tony.
If they're solid, they have three players there
that can hurt any team. So
So much to look forward to in the Premier League this
weekend. The title race top for battle, relegation scrap, and
over the pro soccer talk on. NBC sports.com. For all
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gents. Thanks so much for joining me from pro soccer,
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to you all very soon. Indeed, cheers. And enjoy the games.