HUGE WIN FOR IRAOLA AND THE PLAYERS! | Ipswich 0-2 Liverpool reaction

0:00This podcast is part of the Sports Social Podcast Network. SCREAMS It might seem a little bit like forgotten what winning feels like, but that is because it has been absolutely ages since Liverpool won a competitive game. In fact, the first competitive win tonight since April 25th, which was against Crystal Palace at Amfield, and of course that was five games out from the end of last season. We're two games in to this season as well, so it really has been a while. And I think that's why this feels like an important win. You can say, only Ipswich or whatever, but this is an important win, I think, for Liverpool. I think firstly, for Andonia Riole, he spoke in the press conference ahead of this game about the importance of getting that first victory on board. They'd had back to back two, two draws. You need to start building wins. You need to get the points for starters, but you need to start building that confidence and getting the buy-in from the players and of course winning. It's absolutely the best way to do it.

1:00But as I say, also really, really vital for the players who got used to not winning a lot. And we always say about winning that it is a habit. So to get into that habit or to start breaking the habit of not winning football matches, which very much a lot of this team was in, I think is crucially important. And as I say, you might say, it's only Ipswich, but there are several factors here that could have made this a tricky one. I mean, I've seen some of their games so far, this season, they've looked bright and then they've had wins by the way. They went toe-to-toe with Manchester United. Old Trafford albeit the end up on the end of it, a bit of a hiding, but they could have quite easily gone to two-nill in that game. So a dangerous opponent under the light at home, we know playing away from home in the Premier League is really difficult. And the fact is, as I say, Liverpool have been so poor for such a long time, really, that coming into this one, you know, it felt like a really dangerous game for Liverpool and one that they weren't going to find easy. And I don't think they did find it easy, but I do think this was a deserved win for Liverpool in the end.

2:02And you might look at the statistics from the game and wonder how I might make that case because Ipswich take 14 shots. Liverpool just 10. Liverpool just edging the shots on target count 7 to 5. But the XG very, very even, 0.73 for Ipswich and 0.66 for Liverpool. So Ipswich, edging that statistic. And you look at those, you think, well, maybe a draw would be fair enough. But I think the whole crucial context to this game really comes in that first nine minutes and the fact that Liverpool go into a 2-0 lead so, so quickly in the game, of course, from that point, Ipswich are trying to push to get back in it. Liverpool are trying to manage what they have. And I think that should be pretty pleased with how they manage to do that, really, that Liverpool, you know, win the game in the first nine minutes and then kind of not an awful lot happens after that. And particularly that was pronounced, I think, in the second half, I think, you look at the numbers from that and it's 0.19 to 0.23 on the expected goals in the second half.

3:03As I say, that is basically nothing happening. And I mean, I just think that is fantastic. And probably my main takeaway from this game, really, is a kind of really important point and positive for Liverpool going forward. Because, look, how poorly did the managed games last season, how many late goals did they concede to draw, to lose? They just were unable to manage games at all. And I think you look at that second half where absolutely nothing happens in terms of expected goals or a moment of threat, but it doesn't really turn into anything. Liverpool just kind of managed the way through the game. So the shown in improvement already on something that was a massive Achilles heel for them last season. And also, I think it boads really well for Andoni Iriola's going to bring to the table, not just in terms of an immediate improvement on something. We saw last season, but also, one of the things we talked about, or right, certainly I talked about in videos when he got appointed was, look, we know about the aggression of his style, we know how he goes about things, but can he tweak that?

4:03Because he's got to tweak it for Liverpool. Sometimes they are going to have to manage games. They're going to have to put the foot on the ball a little bit, they're going to have to take into account the fact that he's got a game in three days time and kind of manage themselves. Because otherwise, to play 60 games in a season at 100%, 100 miles an hour almost, it's just not possible. So that was an area you thought about Iriola, he needs to tweak and look, the first sign is here. He's coming to a game Liverpool have gone up to NIL inside nine minutes. And as I say, it turned the second half into an absolute non-events. So I really am encouraged by that. And what it says about how this team is getting better from last season, but also what it says about the manager and maybe a tweak to his approach that he's had to take on ball with the fact that this is Liverpool, it is a very, very different job to being at Bournemouth. So as I say, like the fact they were so good, the fast start and the first, like the fact it was almost quite ugly in the second, but they weren't really threatened at all.

5:03And look, it isn't perfect. I think we can all say that about the performance. I think Liverpool would have liked to be more convincing in the final third, even in the second half. I think of course, there are moments in the game where they do get touched a little bit with threat way. Maybe they've played through a little bit easier and it could attend into something. But we have to remember this team is absolutely not the finished article at all. I think there are areas that the manager's going to have to improve and I think the hour getting played through at times at the moment, but you have to think, I know everybody's obsessed about that, you can only be sold with transfers, but let's not forget that when a new coach comes in and he coaches a new style, it does take time to adapt to that. So you might be right, it might need a transfer to completely fix certain aspects, but I think it can be better as we move forward through the season and I think we've already seen signs of that and certain aspects of Liverpool's play, but there are also some signs of things that are lagging behind a little bit and might need to just be coached out so that out of the team or coached into them.

6:05So you know, bear in mind, as I say, this is not the finished article, but I think loads of encouragement from that one, brilliant fast start, which has been lacking for a while from Liverpool and then the ability to see it out with very little danger for most of the second half in particular, two things that Liverpool really struggle with last season, I think that really important step forward in quite a few aspects today, not least just getting points on the board, getting wins because they become so unfamiliar in recent history. Now just quickly, before I go onto the rest of the video, just a reminder that a few of these kind of match videos going forward, nor VPN are back on board again, which I'm really, really delighted with. Of course, it's because you guys support that. I had someone messaging me the other day asking for the link. So, thank you so much for anyone who supports the channel by clicking that link, which of course is NordVPN.com forward slash link. I left seeing you can find it in the description down there. And you know what it's all about by now, of course, if you want to watch content, it's maybe not available in your region,

7:06whether you are abroad or maybe you're hearing there are things that are happening, and maybe 3 p.m. on a Saturday, then you're able to access them through NordVPN because of course you can change your virtual location to one of 149 different countries, which means you can access all the content that's available there for me. That's important because I don't miss a Liverpool game. And of course, it comes with all those really important safety features like hiding your IP address. So that hackers can't get hold of that. And of course, the best part is that you can use it on 10 different devices as well. So I've got it on my phone, you use it on your laptop as well, maybe your tablet, so it got options for how you use it. And of course, right now as I always say, there's an offer if you click that link that allows you to get four extra months free when you purchase a two-year plan and it's completely rest free because of the 30-day money back guarantee that Nord offers. So it's always say bit of a no brainer and really, really supports me if you use that link below, which is NordVPN.com forward slash Lynch LFC.

8:06Now going into the rest of the game, I think so many players and things I picked out here as positives because I think it was positive and look, we should make the most of the fact that Liverpool are finally winning Premier League games again. And look, I want to start with the man who won the match for Liverpool, which of course is Alexander Esac. Now you will have heard Jamie Carrigor on a recent episode of Monday Night Football say that there was every chance and if Liverpool don't improve that their window for 2026, the summer window might go down as the worst in Premier League history and that might sound harsh, but he of course couched it. Importantly it's worth saying by saying that, look, these players can improve this season, but they kind of have to, otherwise, this is the tag that they're going to get. So you know, he was kind of right because, look, I look at Alexander Esac as the kind of crown jewel in the signings that window, 125 million pounds for a striker who, you know, judging by what he'd given last season, yes, the injuries were a factor, but of course when he was on the pitch outside of injuries,

9:07he wasn't particularly great. Then, you know, he absolutely would have, if he'd be carried on along that trajectory and maybe kept picking up injuries, failing to score goals or look particularly sharp when he was on the pitch, you would have said, you know, he would have been part of the worst signings or worst window in Premier League history because he wasn't giving Liverpool an awful lot. Well, he started this season like a man who looks absolutely determined not to take that tag and not to go down as an expensive flop because he looks absolutely on it, doesn't he? I mean, two goals tonight, three goals so far this season he's looking really, really sharp and I loved his goals tonight. Of course, the first one, great touchy with it, with a really fizzed ball into him, bang, you know, the keeper should do better. I think we all admit that. But look, if you take the shot early and you hit it that hard, you're probably going to beat keepers a lot. And you know, I've seen them score that a few times against Newcastle way, you kind of hit it so well that the keeper you think, oh, you got a hand to it, maybe,

10:08but he really strikes the ball well. So, and I loved the touch in the build up to it as well. Just straight out of his feet and he gets his shot away quick. And then the second great composure as well in terms of kind of jinking in out and then he just kind of passes it in and the goalkeeper no chance there. And I think the best thing about both those goals is not just the composure or the quality that he shows in the strike, but the movement as well, you know, getting in behind and kind of just getting into areas and even before the second goal, he makes a move, then he runs into our side position, looks frustrated, the ball wasn't played, comes straight back on the side and then goes again and gets himself a second goal. So I really loved that. And I think he's just a player who, with that movement, he will get chances and a player of that quality who hits the ball as well as he does who knows where the goal is. If you get chances, he'll score goals. So really, really excited to see what he can do now going forward, he looks fit, he looks sharp. And he's three goals already for this Premier League season and look, he's in an imperfect team at the moment.

11:10We'll see what the coach can iron out. We'll see what needs to maybe be ironed out going forward, although I don't think transfers should always be a topic, but we'll see what they're able to do as they slowly improve, but regardless of even if Liverpool stay imperfect, they've got an absolute demon up front there. You know, it is best that Newcastle absolutely one of the best strikers in the world right up there with Harlem for me and can probably do a little bit more outside of the box than Harlem can. So, but I think the important thing is getting him in those positions to finish and Liverpool are starting to do that. They didn't do that enough, you know, even when he was fit last season. I don't think he was being platformed well enough and now we are seeing it what happens when you get him into positions to affect games, you've got one of the best strikers in the world and that is incredibly important, probably the best position to have one of the best players in the world. Let's be honest. So, you know, loved his performance as I say and of course, a couple of assists for him from that man Cody Gatpo tonight. He's had a brilliant start to the season,

12:10has any one goal, three assists as I say, two of those come into night and I said this I think all last season, you know, he had trouble some season last season, but is there a player at Liverpool who didn't, who wasn't poor and I think more than anyone really, he seemed to be blamed and put in a position where people were saying, you know, kind of writing him off and saying he wasn't a good player anymore, he's not good enough and this, that and the other, but last season wasn't him. I think the season prior to that was a reflection of what Cody Gatpo is as a player. And as I say, I think with Iriola, very much platforms attackers, it's certainly better than slot did I think in his final season. And so, you know, that was the area that you were hoping to see some improvements from not just ESAC and the players that have been brought in last summer, but players who've been there for a while, like Cody Gatpo and I think, you know, you're already seeing that he's got runners ahead of him. In ESAC, he's picking them out. He looks confident because he's had such a great start to the season. I think he's going to really enjoy playing this kind of football. And I think very encouraging that he's kind of kept his head

13:12right despite all the speculation, could be spurs, could be Manchester City. I think he's shown himself to be a top professional and also showed that he's going to be really useful because he goes to centre forward, doesn't he, when ESAC goes off there and I think that's going to be absolutely vital because, of course, you know, they haven't got a KTK until around January maybe, maybe slightly before that, hopefully. But yeah, Gatpo's ability to fill in in that centre forward roll is going to be very important. And of course, I've got to mention there as well. We're talking about a left-winger, brother Barcolla, makes his debut and I thought, really liked what he did in his time on the pitch. He got forward, didn't he? He showed pace. He creates a chance that the Gatpo kind of flops but was a really good opportunity and he was key to that. And he just looked really quick and suited to the Premier League. So I'm very, very excited to see what he can do. And again, he'll be platformed by Eureola. And it's just a reminder, Liverpool, have got a really stacked attack. We talk about it being an imperfect team,

14:14but they have got the forward options to trouble anybody. And I think you saw that today with who they started with, who they were able to bring off the bench. And I think that's going to be a real asset for them. And I'm looking forward to seeing those attacking options absolutely flourish this season and have a big say in how Liverpool get on. Of course, there are other positions that are important and have to move back down the pitch now. To praise a defender for their performance today and that will be Ronald Arauho. I thought he was absolutely brilliant today. It's funny because he comes in and he's builder to this hybrid defender capable of playing right back and centre-half. That was very much how he's built to me before even knew that it was Arauho who was going to sign. That was the profile Liverpool we're looking for. And that's the profile they got in him. But I kind of looked at him in his first couple of appearances for Liverpool. The all came at centre-half in preseason, of course. And I thought, he's a bit stocky, might not turn the quickest, maybe. You know, is he probably just going to have

15:14most of his minutes there at centre-half, maybe more than right back, particularly in the Premier League, which is just so full of pace. And then he comes in today for, you know, his first start in the Premier League, he's starting there at right back in. As I thought, he was absolutely magnificent tonight. He couldn't really beat him on the ground, three out of four ground jewels, one. They couldn't beat him at all in the air, six out of six aerial jewels, one, which is fantastic. He also makes seven clearances, not dribble past a single time, which again shows. You know, he can, he can, once he gets moving, he gets that momentum going, very difficult to get around him. And it felt like so many times where it switched, we're kind of half close to creating something. He was the man there to make the clearance, the man to step in and nick the ball. So just a really, really good performance from him. And something that really encourages you about him is that he can play right back now and that Liverpool, again, you know, Liverpool, everybody felt they were really, really short at centre-half, coming into the season, even after they'd done a bit of business.

16:15And then pre-season starts, Jacque plays well, a Rauho plays well, centre-half looks stock. So everybody moves the worries to right back. And again, you see a Rauho tonight, we maybe didn't think he was going to be an option there. We thought it was maybe going to be more Joe Gomez, kind of Bradley, when he's fit, of course, Jeremy Frimpong as well. While the Rauho showed he's absolutely an option there tonight, I think. So again, just makes the squad look stronger, will ease a lot of people's fears. And of course, there are other challenges to come, but he couldn't have made a better start, really, in terms of his ability to contribute at right back than tonight. And I do wonder, because he is that kind of centre-half right back profile, he brings a bit of balance, he can get forward, he's different to Frimpong, he's thinking, you know, safety first, a lot of the time. And when you've got a flyer on the other side, like me, Lush Kirk has, maybe that just balances the team up to half him there. And I think, you know, in terms of his performance, and if it's a meritocracy, and you keep the shirts, if you play well, then I think he's got to keep his place. But I think he will, also, we think he maybe I've got to keep him

17:18because he balances the team up. And he talked, didn't he, about finding combinations, in fact, you know, making the right decisions in certain positions. Maybe this will be the one, maybe this has made the decision for him, maybe it doesn't work next time, maybe there's more to learn here, but really interesting performance, and I thought, absolutely brilliant. And I think, Sir Bosley, I'd be absolutely made up as well, if it didn't mean he doesn't have to go to right back, but yeah, very, very good from Ronald Raoho tonight, I thought. And also speaking about the combinations and the importance that he was primarily talking, I think they're about midfield, and I have to give praise to Alexis McAllister for his performance tonight. And, you know, maybe a bit of humble pie for me as well, because I think, you know, I don't have my players on this channel at all. It's not what I look to do, but I think, you know, I've written and talked in the past about my big worries about Alexis McAllister is that his issues last season weren't so much that he was, you know, he'd lost the ability to play football or the quality of gone. It was more that maybe the Premier League's physicality,

18:20it was going to be an issue for him to be suited to that. I had even more worries when I saw how I really wanted to set up his midfield, which is effectively just a two-man midfield. There's a lot of space behind them to cover, but look, he was excellent tonight, and I have to point that out. I mean, you know, four out of six ground jules, one, four tackles, five recoveries as well. He just seems so many times to be right place, right time, in terms of helping to pen Ipswich in. I thought he was brilliant in terms of that. And I just think, you know, one thing you can't take away from McAllister, he's not the quickest, he's not the strongest either, but I think in terms of the intelligence of him as a midfielder, I think he's probably the best out of all of them that Liverpool have got at the moment in terms of knowing exactly where to be, you know, making the right decisions in the right moment. He's, you know, and I said many, many times in the past, I thought he was the best midfielder Liverpool had in that season when they won the Premier League title. I've just had huge worries that he's physicaled the client,

19:20had been such that he wasn't able to get back to that level. Well, you know, I don't think anything's decided yet. It is one game, but I thought he was, he was excellent today. And maybe a real step in the right direction. And you know, worth mentioning, he still finishes 12 for distance covered. He still makes the fewest sprints of any player who started tonight's match. So that's interesting. And you worry still about that space behind him. But look, I think the important thing is in football, you know, sometimes you're going to have players who have weak, you say, sometimes always you will have players who have certain weaknesses, players who have certain strengths. And you want to amplify the strengths as much as you can. And you want to kind of mask the weaknesses as much as you can. And look, his weaknesses are going to be that if you get the other side of him, he's not going to be able to catch you, but that doesn't probably mean that it's impossible to play him or use him. It's just whether Iriola can get that mix right. You can put someone alongside him who covers that. Maybe Subozlite who's always up there for sprints and distance covered. Maybe that helps. Maybe it's kind of, you know, just how tight the center halves are.

20:24Let's make the space smaller behind it by pushing the center halves up and being aggressive, which again is something Liverpool absolutely tried to do. So I really hope, I really hope that this can be a sign that Alex is a mechanic. It can work for him in this team. And that, you know, because I think every all that you'll become, if it does work out for him, he'll become his go-to man. Because as I say, the intelligence is right up there. And, you know, in terms of his use to the ball as well, it'd be a perfect fit because he can play vertically all day long. And if he can be in the right place at the right time to nick the ball and press, then he really can make it work for him. But it's, as I say, it's about finding combinations. And, you know, maybe Iriola feels after tonight's game that he's got a little bit closer to getting those combinations right. And before I wrap up, I just want to have a quick mention to Floreen Vietz as well, just because at first half, I thought when Liverpool played all the best attacking football, he was absolutely at the heart of it. I know Gatpo creates two ESAC scores, two, but I just thought Vietz was kind of

21:25pulling the strings everywhere. And I thought, you know, when it wasn't going that way in the second half, as well Liverpool not playing quite as much football, he still worked his socks off. If you really clever fouls, he gets away with that at the other card for to just slow the momentum when the ball's been lost as well. He also covers the most distance of any player on the pitch yet again. You know, it always seems to be right up there and who completes the most dribbles with three as well. So both those sides of his game, I love. And, you know, the distance covered, it's not just when he's kind of running around trying to close players down as well. It's, it's also that he's always moving to try and find space to receive the ball and take it. So really enjoyed his performance. And I just think, you know, I want to mention him every week because I think he's just a magnificent footballer who, you know, if you keep getting better and better as it has a think he is at the moment, you know, I'm really excited about what he can bring. I'm just excited about Liverpool as a whole because I think as I say, this game is a move in the right direction, what they're doing in the attack. The fact they get a clean sheet, it's not perfect, but the journey looks, you know, promising,

22:26I would say. So I'm excited about that. And maybe just quickly mentioned Jeremy Jacquet as well. And a few ups, a few downs in this game. The ups were really, really good in a few moments where he makes little errors, maybe not concentrating enough. Got to be patient with him, I think. You know, he's a player who's got real, real talent. But you've got, you know, he's still very, very young isn't he? So it's going to take him a little bit of time to iron out all the mistakes. But another impressive performance on the whole, I would say, from him. And another impressive performance on the whole from Liverpool really is a very, very good win, a very important win. And yeah, get some closer to where they want to be as a team. So do let me know your thoughts on all that always interested in all you thought, who was your man of the match? What do you think of the performance in general? That second half, very dogged, really managed it well, very impressed by that. Are you as impressed as I was? Do let me know your thoughts on all that. And of course, I'm going to say, you can like and subscribe. I would huge that you appreciate it. I'll see you guys very soon.