title battle, who will win the trophy, man city of Liverpool,
at two games to go. Obviously City at a three-point lead.
Much better goal difference in Liverpool
Nick that we think they're over the line now because the some
of the response after the Champions League exit to Real
Madrid has been really good as an at the the win against
Newcastle, the hammering
of wolves as well. I think it's what
22 goals and to scored and to conceded in the last five
games, which have all been wins. I I mean they are just
powering towards the title. Can you see
any reason? Why Man City aren't going to get over the line and
win? These final, two games.
No, I think both teams are going to win out. I just think
it's been a test of leadership in mentality for the last few
months. We've just seen
that these both of these teams are so well equipped and
confident and assured of themselves. I think that's
the big thing. They're sure to the system. Sure to their talent.
They're being built up positively by their coaches,
you know, we haven't heard for so long with either of these
managers. We haven't heard of a man. This guy really wishes. He
was playing more even though we know that there are guys there,
wishing. They were playing more and so when I look at both of
these teams are either of them in a position
where I think they're going to falter.
And when I look at Man City,
it's just no with this focus
with without any other obstacles to look at.
I think this is a team with an awful lot of pride in their
system. It's a coach with an awful lot of Pride, who will
know how to line themselves up. He's been through this before.
As we know. He Pep Guardiola has not won a Champions League
in some time, which means every year since Since then he's had
to deal with a letdown and how to how to learn from that. And
there is
it sounds like I'm,
you know,
giving a backhanded compliment. But the fact of the matter is,
if anybody's going to deal with this, it's him.
It is, it is
I'm going to be at the game, they play at West Ham on
Sunday, the London Stadium
and they play first, obviously ahead of Liverpool. So they
could go six points. Clear, with a win. And then, like you
said, live quite the win out, and hope they slip up on
the final day against Aston. Villa, Steven Gerrard us.
Philip other way. Just
just going to cut that out there.
Interesting phrase. There. Joe.
Yes, exactly. A feel like he will want to do is old team
a favor. But when it comes to Man City, the only issue I see is
the fact that John Stones is out Ruben Diaz out car Walker
out for the season
and then I'm Rick Lepore and fernandinho both hobbled off
and are battling to be fit for this game at West Ham. So we
could see a scenario. Where
Nathan, Echo, and rodri applying Center back against
West Ham and you've got Got McHale Antonio and Jared Bowen
running at you,
and a fired-up, last home game of the season for West Ham.
They need to win to try and secure six spot and then other
Europa League campaign.
This is going to be tough. It's not easy. I think especially
with those injuries. And then against Villa on the final day
who is just as well as West Ham we've seen that they are
capable of causing upsets and causing problems and
they played really well against Liverpool
last time out. So,
Andy, I'm kind of
just just build a bit of a case here for man, sit your slip-up
can. Can you understand why even though they've been
imperious and attack, Kevin De bruyne has been superb. Scoring
goals, Galore and driving them towards a title.
There is just something in the back of my mind with these
defensive performances. And now the fact that I've lost a lot
of their Defenders where I'm not quite ready to put those
blue ribbons on the Premier League trophies, just yet.
Yeah. This might be the opportunity for Pep to do what
he's always wanted to do. Try to go for 100 percent of
possession in a game. If you don't give the ball away ever,
then you can't be. You know, you can't consider do like
Even going to say play filfo in the center back. Then
he has kind of hinted at that. I don't think we'll see that
but I think the fact that rodri can drop in their fernandinho.
Obviously we've seen a number of times over the years weather
report is going to be available and
I would guess that he probably tries to give it a go and maybe
that turns out disastrously think that would probably be
the worst case scenario is if he if they try to kind of force
him out there and he has to come off after 10 minutes or
so. And, and it's
clear that it's just not going to work but
I just, I look at the form of Kevin De bruyne of the four
goals that he scored against wolves. It seemed like every
touch was just masterful and just absolutely perfect.
I don't know,
we've been trying to figure out for years. Well, how do you
stop this guy? How do you stop what they have there in
Midfield especially and there are so many different ways that
you can kind of protect the back line. You can stack
another defensive midfielder in there.
You can you can put a
couple of wide midfielders out. Out there to protect your
fullbacks. They can tuck in just a little bit. We know
Jacques conselho is really, really multifaceted and
talented a number of different positions. So
I think that there's enough,
there's enough Talent, there's enough smarts, there's enough
understanding. And, and how to play with one another. There's
so many Partnerships in the way that the peps teams have always
played because
the defensive midfielders in the center backs. Obviously
have relationships, the defensive midfielders on
the full-backs. The attacking Midfield. It's just it's It's
really really tightly
wound, Domino's. It almost feels like the everybody is so fluid.
Such a well-rounded quality players that
I think they find a way especially against West Ham
and then on the final day against Festival, I think they
find a way through both games.
Yeah. Tell it to I'll give it that. I think we all kind of
see. Now the it's
not a profession but it's nearly getting to that case
given how good they've been over the last four or five
games just sort of close it out and if they do,
When the title, it will be a fourth title and the last five
seasons for Man City. So
that's a dynasty right there.
Nick folks are Liverpool their last. Couple of games are way
at Southampton and home against walls on the final day.
Do you think they're going to win both of those games to make
sure that City have to have to get the job done? You mentioned
earlier. You think they're going to win outright? I do
the only challenge of course comes from
playing an FA Cup Final and and what their could
kind of affect them.
They've just proven time and time again, that they're two,
they're too good. The question is they seem to give up
three chances to three chances of game and they're all huge
chances that the half chances. It's not one of those things
where Liverpool lose and you say to yourself. Wow. I can't
believe he bent the ball in from that angle. No, it's
a gaping
open net for a team that good. And
it seems like I think I tweeted this the other day
when Liverpool's back switch off, its not just one back.
It's all four at the same time.
No, that's really. The only thing is, if one of these teams
takes all of their chances, because we know they're going
to get them. And that is the Fatal flaw for Liverpool. And
honestly, we'll talk about this soon.
What I worry about when they play Real Madrid and Chelsea
and these two finals.
Yeah. I mean some of the stats are incredible Allison's, sort
of sight percentage from one-on-one situations. He's
above and beyond.
Just just the main reason why I think they played at Highline
with Matty. Poor cannot say and Van Dyke, stepping all the way.
Open allowing the Midfield and attack to put so much pressure
on teams and just suffocate in them. But you're right. If
a team can get like Villa did recently and just like most
teams do if they go more direct and
just catch em in behind with one long ball.
That, that could happen, that could happen in these games at
the final
end of the season not just the finals but also these final two
Premier League games. But
again, we just love I think I speak for all of us watching
these two teams live for Man City in full flow throughout
the
And
honestly, if they could share the title, I think
that would be very,
very honest way to do it and I feel like both teams deserve to
win the title this season given how good they've been and in
previous years that's been the case as well.
But we know all those Sports doesn't work like that apart
from in the old days. I think we need to share the community
Shield. Sometimes it was a draw. But
yeah, it's
I just cannot see Mounds that you slipping up either. So I'm
going to kind of up.
I'm going to start with this.
I think that's it. You've won the title. Do we all agree with
that now? Do we see any big slip-ups, Nick around e or is
it? Is it too early? Is it too early to say
that the title was going from the Premier League? It's so
hard for me to say that and that's something I do. I don't
expect them to lose. I would but I just can't say it's
sealed. Thought it was sealed in December.
Yeah. Yeah, we all did. Right? Andy.
Yeah. Well said he had their little wobble and they dropped
a few points in. They let Liverpool back in. But I think
in hindsight now obviously we have the benefit of that.
Looking back how quickly they came out of that and how
sharply they came out of that as well. It wasn't just back to
winning one. Nil.
They immediately got to back to just ABS getting leaving teams.
No chance whatsoever from the opening whistle. I think that
was probably our sign that they understood the pressure that
was mounting on them and that they had created for
themselves.
And the way they came out of that regardless of what was
going to happen in the Champions League, regardless of
what happened the up-and-up semifinal between
Two teams that that was
maybe objective one be for the season with the Champions
League being one a but as soon as they went out of that they
there was a they've been ruthless All Season that
the talent that they have you, that that's just going to come
naturally,
but it seemed like Kevin De bruyne up
was playing Angry. He was angry, the last couple of games
and there's a number of players in that side that have played
that way.
And I think when you give players of that quality
that have done what a number of those individuals have done.
You give them that extra motivation, you give them that
fire in the belly that they you know, maybe they maybe need to
be reignited. A willeth 2/3 of the way or three three quarters
of the way through the season, you give them that and all bets
are off. Yeah. It's kind of like extra urgency, right? So,
okay, we've had a great season. We're talking about
the quadruple, the treble for a long time, but
we cannot end this season without winning a trophy. So
let's get the job done here. Let's Sprint over the line. So,
how incredible would that be?
If this arguably, that one of the best teams we've ever seen,
when a seasoned Without a trophy. That would be, that
would feel very unfair.