I don't think his form has been as good.
I mean, it was brilliant and maybe it's...
But even his goals haven't been the same.
His goals have dried up a little bit,
so that's why I was reluctant to say
he is the best player in the country.
I think he'll get Player of the Year,
but I think he'll get Player the Year for...
You think if City were to win,
you don't think Kevin De Bruyne gets Player of the Year?
No.
How are you, mate? You okay?
Good. You?
Nice to see you.
What we on today, who are we representing?
I'm representing the mighty Liverpool today.
Painful.
And you are Manchester City.
Yes, come on. Let's do it.
I think that was easy enough.
Yeah, I don't see any of the teams losing.
I must agree with you,
the fact that Liverpool have to go to Southampton tonight
after winning the FA Cup
and get a result
and then get another result
and hope Manchester City drop some points
against Aston Villa at home.
There's a slight element to it with Stevie
and now I'm thinking please,
please don't come back and upset me.
Stevie is a legend in my eyes, even though he's Liverpool
but it could upset me if he derails it.
I don't think he gets a medal.
I don't think he is winning them the title.
He gets two medals if he does it.
I think with Steven going back
and all the playing staff,
and of course Philippe Coutinho, who was at Liverpool
at the time.
I think it's too much of a of a fairy tale, isn't it?
And the big overriding thing is that
Manchester City are so good,
so dominant, I just cannot see it happening at all.
The greatest in history?
In the history. Of course they are!
What happens if they don't win?
That's not the question!
Yeah, I'm gonna say 'Agree', I'm not strongly agreeing.
Listen, if Manchester City won the quadruple
I'd say they were the greatest team.
Yeah I know you would,
but it just pains me to say that Liverpool could be
could be the greatest team.
So I was gonna say 'Agree'.
Yeah.
That's fair enough.
Yeah.
I strongly agree
because this never ever happens.
They'll have played in every single game
they'll have reached three finals.
Yeah.
Liverpool has got a great history, you know, and
they've won the treble before
and the great teams that have gone before them...
Great European history.
Yeah, but this team, if they win
four trophies I think it's surpasses anything.
Yeah, I agree with that, to be fair,
it just pains me to say.
All right I'll go 'Agree' then, with you.
Oh, that's a good question.
The Invincibles have got to be up there,
because that's something that's never been done before.
Anybody who's done the treble,
I think as footballers we know how difficult it is,
isn't it?
And if you win three trophies in a year...
The Invincible was superb not losing the game.
So I think if you can set a new record in that respect.
What do you think it will be harder to do now
for these teams:
do the treble or Invincibles?
Probably Invincibles, yeah.
I think it's probably easier for these two teams
to win three trophies in a season.
Certainly in England, it's hard work, isn't it?
It's hard, hard work.
They're the favourites pretty much every year
in the Champions League,
so how can that be considered a big club?
I'm with you.
I think they are a big club.
I disagree with the comments.
I think they are a big club.
Yeah,
I think there's something about
winning the Champions League to propel them to the sort of,
not the next level, but
to give them a little bit of originality
in the eyes of other people, that's all. But I...
To the teams that have won it, 100%, I understand
why they're saying that,
but I don't think it's because they believe that
I think it's just because they haven't won it
and that's the only thing they have
Yeah, yeah
over them at the moment.
I think they're a fantastic team.
The history is not as strong as other teams
but that's just football in general.
Exactly. And it's coming. Yeah.
As long as they maintain this.
Yeah.
Nah, I think he's doing it for the 'gram,
he's trying to be relevant socially,
rather than believing that.
This is a guy that's eaten raw chicken.
I know.
Come on. We're not taking that serious, are we?
I know exactly, exactly.
We shouldn't even be having that as a point of reference,
what he says.
Yeah. Let's move back to the middle.
I'm gonna-
For Liverpool?
No, that you played with anywhere.
Oh anybody?
Yeah, he's winning. He's winning, man.
Do you want to know why he's winning?
Because he's got my favourite player of all time,
he played with R9, so.
There you go, then.
We're done. We're done out here.
I disagree, but I'm gonna go with Joleon.
And he's played with me, he's played against me.
It'd be a good game.
It'd be a good game, yeah.
I wouldn't dare be blasé to say that, but.
Yeah it would be a good game.
But R9 tops it for me.
There you go.
Like, if I'm picking...
He's playing against Rio and Vinny,
so it's gonna be tough.
But it's R9, R9 wins.
So I'm gonna say his team wins
strongly agree.
No, I know! I mean... they were brilliant.
I mean, it's just as you said, you know,
when you talk about the names of course they're the...
Yeah,
the big names of, you know,
World Player the Year names and stuff, but you know, it's...
you wouldn't necessarily say
they'd beat them just for the sake of it.
But yeah, I was very fortunate to play with a load of
really nice players, yeah, really good players.
Yaya Touré.
I'd say, like, the best footballer I played with
was David Silva.
But the best player I played with was Yaya,
because I said if he played well, we won.
Yeah, yeah.
It was done.
And that year where he was - everything
he did, he just dragged that team. Against Palace,
when he scored goals and scored great goals.
20 goals, I think he got 13 assists.
Yeah.
His pass accuracy for the season was 90%.
Yeah, yeah.
For the season!
I know. He's a great player, isn't he,
and this falling out with Pep
has just knocked him a little bit, you know,
the aura about him.
Which is a pity, really, because he's a lovely fella.
I played with Zidane, I thought he was superb.
He was a great player.
And he disagrees that his team would win!
Shut up, Steve!
Next question.
R9 was good...
I don't like saying things like that.
Well, that is true.
That's facts.
It used to be the UK until Gareth Bale won
four Champions Leagues.
But yeah, that's easy, that's a fact. I am.
Fortunately, I am, yeah.
Not particularly. I'm not bothered, to be honest.
I believe him that he's not bothered. I'm bothered for him.
I'm bothered.
It's nice that people mention it
but, you know, that that'll be surpassed soon
so it doesn't really...
By who?
No but, not now
but in the future someone will go, whether
it's Jude [Bellingham] or, you know someone will go abroad
and win trophies.
But Jude's coming back.
No, I know, but someone will go. It's, like,
I was the UK and then Gareth went and won four
Champions Leagues, so then it's, 'Oh actually,
Gareth is.' So now I'm England.
So...
I think English teams are going to take our talent.
Our English teams will take England's best talent.
I hope so. And if that carries on, great,
but I just think... I don't get bothered about it.
No one ain't going to Madrid and scoring in the final
of the Champions League, anyway,
I don't get bothered about that.
So yeah, it's a really nice thing,
but it's all, it's all good.
Give me one of them questions.
Give Joleon a question like that.
Give me one of them about the Championship.
Very, very... Just half of agreeing...
And I say this because I think City will win the league
and I always think, say, when you're picking
Player of the Year, they should always come
from the team that's won the league;
picking the best player and him achieving
what he set out to do.
You know what I mean?
Yeah.
He's been immense.
I think he's been different, though,
since he's come back from-
So do I
That's why I was a bit, that's why I was really...
I don't think he's been the same,
because if he had been I don't think
he'd have been rested as much as he has been.
Outstanding but yeah, I don't think...
Yeah, I think from August to December
he was the standout player of the year.
I know Bernardo had it, Silva played well,
but I thought he was the standout player.
But I think since the Africa Nations
him losing to Mane in the final
and then the World Cup qualifications
and him losing to Mane in the final...
Yeah, a bigger impact than we thought.
Yeah, and I don't think his form has been as good.
I mean, it was brilliant and maybe it's...
But even these goals haven't been the same.
His goals have dried up a little bit.
So that's why I was reluctant to say
he is the best player in the country.
I think he'll get Player of the Year
but I think he'll get Player of the Year for...
You think if City were to win you, don't think
Kevin De Bruyne gets Player of the Year?
No.
I think Player of the Year is already done,
like it was when we when we were playing.
I think it gets some quite early, doesn't it?
They used to, like, do them too early.
Yeah.
Doing it in February/March. I'm like, what?
Exactly. So I think the fact that Liverpool have
just won the FA Cup
and getting to the final of the Champions League,
I think they'll give it to a Liverpool player.
And I think, likewise,
the Ballon d'Or will be given to whoever wins it,
Benzema or...
So you don't think he's won that?
No. Who?
Benzema. I think he's already won it.
I just think if Mane wins the Africa Nations
and wins the FA Cup and the Carabao Cup
and then wins the Champions League...
I think they'll bypass him, though.
Do you think so?
Yeah. Even though I don't think they should.
Yeah. Wow. Okay.
I think they do.
Okay.
I think they do.
For him to win it,
I think he has to contribute to them winning,
whereas if Real Madrid just win it without Benzema scoring...
Likewise,
I think if Real Madrid win it,
win the Champions League,
I think Benzema definitely deserves to get it.
Yeah, I think that is what it is.
That's certainly what I'd say.
God, no! God, no!
I mean, come on. For what?
For what?
So?! And?
Are we in a final?
Or are we just playing in a tournament?
Is Gareth Southgate still manager?
Well then he is yeah, he's the best, yeah.
No, I don't think he's a better player than Trent
I just think Gareth Southgate
errs on the side of caution all the time.
And he plays too defensive for me
when I watch England. I don't think...
But you're talking, like, Reece James is in there as well,
It's not just between them two, like.
But in regards to what England need
I think they need, yeah, I would say Kyle Walker,
I wouldn't pick Kyle Walker, no.
That's what I'm saying,
I'm thinking what game are we in?
That's the reason we got through,
is because Kyle Walker recovered.
So yes, he's in there. I'm gonna go 'Strongly agree', then,
if that's the case.
if I was picking my right-back,
I'd go for someone...
I'd go for Reece or Trent.
Yeah, and I understand that.
I understand that.
If I was picking my team.
And that's no disrespect to Kyle Walker.
No, that's no disrespect to any of them.
They're all that level
where you can't disrespect any of them.
So Gareth Southgate I agree with;
if it was me I would 'Disagree' with. That's all I'm saying.
I'm gonna agree because
I still feel England as a team
are not Liverpool or City.
Do you think England are too defence-minded
when you watch them play?
Erm, no.
If you were England manager,
would you play with five at the back?
I think the formation suits the players we've got.
I would say personally,
when I watched them get to the final last year,
I'd like them to be more attack-minded. Who's your back four?
I would've had... I don't mind having Kyle Walker as a right
back, I would have always played with four.
I wouldn't have played with two sitting midfielders.
We had Declan [Rice] and Calvin Phillips
and I just thought it was too negative against teams.
Like, that was my personal opinion.
You know, we got to the final. What do I know?
World Cup?
I'm gonna say Jacob Ramsay.
I've seen him, I know him, work with him.
Yeah, you work with him, don't you?
His reputation good, isn't it?
Yeah, his work ethic's good.
Mark and obviously Connor are in there,
but someone that's uncapped, not involved,
I want to say Jacob. He moves like
Yaya Touré, that's a lot of pressure, Jacob.
So, be listening.
But he moves like Yaya Touré.
Premier League history.
I'll disagree with that as well.
You know, we're only talking about the last couple of years.
And you sit here
and you're trying to think of the, you know,
the great forward lines, aren't you, in the past.
And then you think about the Man United forward lines.
Thierry Henry and Bergkamp
and Pires and Overmars.
They were outstanding.
We quickly forget about them,
because you're sitting here now, knowing...
Seeing something from recent weeks.
We so we know about it now.
I think maybe in a couple of years
if they continue to be successful, maybe,
but I wouldn't just say it after...
Diaz has been there, what, four months?
Yeah. Jota has been there...
18? Yeah.
I wouldn't make that statement.
That big statement, that.
Someone like Shearer and Henry.
Shearer has got to be in the conversation.
Shearer has to be in the conversation.
Because he scored the most.
And he wasn't in the best team.
Yeah, I'm gonna go...
Thierry was good.
He's in there.
Thierry was brilliant.
I'm gonna go Thierry and Aguero.
Ooh.
Actually, what am I saying? Wazza [Wayne Rooney].
I'd have Wazza, yeah.
Oh, yeah. Wazza was different.
Primetime Wazza. Wazza and Henry.
I can't. I have to have Sh-
You're going Shearer?
I have to have Shearer in.
Yeah, because yeah, Shearer's more...
He was hard work, he was brilliant, he was.
Wazza's my Shearer.
And we're gonna go Henry.
I'm too old for-
I'm too young for Shearer.
Yeah, exactly.
I'm a little bit too old for Wazza but being a scouser,
I should have him in my team, I should have him in.
Yeah, you're not disrespecting him by picking Shearer,
though, are you? You know what I mean?
So I'll go for Henry/Shearer
and he can go Rooney.
Even though Sergio gets honourable mention.
But yeah.
I think if he stays fit.
Yeah, if we're going on that, then I'm gonna say 'Agree'.
I actually think, I think if he stays fit
he could be brilliant, I really do.
I think he'd be brilliant.
And I think Liverpool's
forwards will spread it around a bit more now-
That's what I'm saying. Do you think he'll just score
more than Salah?
One of them might be moved on next year,
one of the forwards, I don't know.
Because you can't keep five happy. Can you?
I think Salah and Mane are waiting, who signs first.
So I think Liverpool will scatter their goals
across the board next year,
rather than... Because Mo's hit the first five months
and Sadio's hit the last
and I think that will go across the year. 'Cause now Diaz
has come in, he'll score more goals next year
and I think it'll be dispersed across the boards-
Who do you think is top goalscorer for Liverpool?
Next year? I think it'll be Mo again
because he takes the pens.
Yeah.
But I think Haaland,
Haaland, yeah.
I think he'll outscore all of them.
Because I think he takes pens next season.
Yeah, I think he'll outscore all of them, I do.
If he has a season like Lukaku
it'll be a huge surprise
where, because the way Manchester City play,
I expect him to be just a machine scoring goals.
Oh, I definitely agree with that.
Yeah. Deserved?
I want to say I wish I had some more.
But I was unfortunate.
My timing was bad, to be fair.
I come in there, it was Sol [Campbell].
When Sol stepped down it was Terry and Rio
and I was there, just waiting around for them.
And then we kind of finished around about the same time
so I missed my opportunity.
Probably got more than I thought I was going to get
when I was starting out so, it's not bad.
I think only because when I
was starting out and getting into
the England teams, back then the club,
they controlled you. So there'd be times when
I'd be called up for the England team
and I'd be told you're not going, you have to stay.
You know. And I'd go 'Okay'. And that would be it.
And then other times you might-
How many caps was it?
I had 37, but in the end, I should have have more.
Yeah, you know, it is what it is and circumstances,
as you said sometimes you're on the subs bench
and you don't get on, sometimes
you think you should be on
and you're not on. But it is what it is.
And I missed the World Cup in 2002,
I didn't get called into the squad
after we'd just won the Champions League,
you know, you feel as if you should have went
but you know, maybe if I would have played better
for England, I would have got picked
but sometimes it's just, you know, it-
There more of a bias then,
though, you had to be in England.
Exactly. I was playing
in Spain a lot and...
You weren't playing in Spain, Steve, you were
playing for Real Madrid.
And that's what I mean, yeah.
Every game's on the television, everybody knows
what everybody's doing.
That's the thing, so you had to be in England
to get the recognition.
Yeah, maybe.
[DANNY] Did Sven come out to watch you much in Madrid?
No! God, I don't think he came out ever.
I mean, again,
don't get me wrong.
I wasn't bothered that he never came out.
I mean, I'm certainly not sure in that. I think no,
but I may be wrong.
Not that I know of.
But, again, I wasn't I wasn't that bothered about it,
he didn't need to come out, not with technology,
you know, in the early 2000s.
I'd just won the Champions,
I'd just won the Champions League,
I don't think he-
Yeah, I was about to say. What do we need to confirm?
From scoring in the Champions League final,
what confirmation?
Maybe I just, I should have played better, so.
Got two goals.
You know what I mean? It is what it is, isn't it?
Don't push this off the table.
I just want to just slide off way...
How far have we got? Have you got a
'Strongly, strongly strongly agree'?