Arsenal’s Historic Form, Liverpool’s Crisis & Max Dowman Shines Again

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For more information about energy that hits the top corner every time, head to FuseEnergy.com/football Hello and welcome to The Restless Football with Michael Richards, Alan Shearer and me, Garrett Linnicka. We're going to look back on a very interesting week in the Carabao Cup. Well, actually, you were at the game, weren't you? You watched Newcastle's Victory Against Spurs. Alan, Michael, you probably were watching at home like me, watching a variety of games. Multiview. Yes, we did the same thing. The new Multiview thing works really well. Yeah. I thought it was really good, actually. Yeah. So you can actually watch, well, I think it was about four matches at once because they didn't have on the ones that were their main priority on the televised thing. So I enjoyed doing it, watching it that way, especially when there were so many interesting games. How was it at St James's? Defending the title? Yeah, very good. I thought the best team won. I was impressed when Newcastle, Lee changed it around a bit, not as much as other teams, as did Tottenham, but they made four or five changes, I think, which was always going to be the case. But I thought, yes, Spurs did all right. They made it difficult at times, but I did think Newcastle, with a better team, had the better chances. Ramsdale had to make two very good saves in the second half to keep Newcastle in there, but it was a good atmosphere. They brought a load of fans. They filled the top area, Tottenham, so it was a really good atmosphere. But you can tell again that Newcastle won this trophy and he rotated the squad and did a really good job on the players that came in and the players that are on the fringe and not playing as much. I thought they did really, really well, so it was good to be there and it was a good atmosphere, and they got a great draw as well, Newcastle and Lee. Who's the draw? They got a home draw at Fulham. I mean, are you being a little bit disrespectful to Fulham there, Alan? I could come back to bite you in the arse. It might do, but you can't ask for any more than a home draw and they've got that. Can I have some credit, please, Alfa? Volta Marder, when you wasn't sure you wasn't really know about it, he's a good player, isn't he? He's done really well. He's definitely not a number nine, but because a lot of his good game, and it is good, is that he's coming towards the ball, but Newcastle have to get players beyond him. They have to get runners beyond him, whether that's the two-wingers or whether that's the midfielders, and that will bring the best out of him. And obviously, you have to put crosses into the box because he's six foot six, whatever he is, so he needs balls into the box. And another really good header last night, Brave, keeping me at a bit of a hash of it, but he gets his goal, he won't be bothered about that. So, yeah, he's had a brilliant start to his career at Newcastle, he really has. Just one more question from me, Al. Where in Newcastle? Because I know you was a little bit disappointed at the start of the season. It looks like they've turned it around, is that fair to say? Yeah, I guess so. I think they had it. It was a big result for them at the weekend, scoring the last couple of minutes at home. They need to carry that on now. They've got West Ham this weekend, that's what they need to do. I mean, they've got West Ham Sunday, and then they've got Athletic Bill Bauer, I think, on Wednesday. So, two big games, but they need to keep their league form going and start and climb the table. But I think it's starting to come together after a bit of a tough start and a bit of a tough pre-season for Newcastle for obvious reasons. And I asked Eddie there at the weekend, didn't I? Football Focus, when I interviewed him, did he expect such a bit of a difficult, rocky start? And I think because of what everything that's gone on, and the answer to that was yes, but there are signs it's just starting to happen for Newcastle now. He's got to sort their away form out a little bit, haven't he? So, only I think it's four goal scorers in the league, which that needs to improve. But yeah, I think, yeah, positive signs. I would be reasonably confident going into this weekend's game at West Ham, that they can go then and do something, hopefully get the three points. But it's looking decent for Newcastle, yeah? Yeah, both Newcastle and Spurs left out a few players, as most teams did, but by and large still played really strong team. Liverpool, by contrast, left an awful lot of players out. Now, this was, I think, a bit of a gamble from Slott. I think he's almost, I wouldn't say thrown the game, but I think he's in the bigger picture. He's decided that the Carabao cup wasn't important, that the game's coming up. Obviously, they've got Villa at the weekend, and then they've got Real Madrid. And I think that's taken priority. But when you're in a bit of a losing run, is that a good call? And I think even the teams that did make a few changes, they still had strong players on the bench that they could bring on. If you looked at Liverpool's bench last night, I think most people would struggle to recognise most, if not all of the players that were on the bench. In fairness, though, with Liverpool, I remember in previous seasons, they've always used their youngsters, certainly at this stage of the cup. So in answer to your question, maybe for a little bit of confidence, you could have put a couple of bigger names on there. But I actually think it was the right decision. Really? I really do. And I know they've been through a difficult time, but the fact that the league cup compared to the Premier League and the Champions League, it's not as big. If we're all being honest about the situation, and I think you're alluding to more of the confidence in the camp and having another loss, and then the pressure, and then the fans piling in. At the moment, Liverpool are just searching and expectation levels are massive because of last season. They've brought in some new players, the new players haven't performed at the level. It's as simple as that. We've talked about Liverpool. We'll try and give them all the excuses that they want and things take time. But top players are bought for 100 plus because they're not supposed to take time. That is the thing with Liverpool. And I just think for a manager, he's got to pick and choose the right moments for the players to get the wins and losses. And yesterday wasn't the biggest competition, so I totally understood why he did it. I think it's a massive gamble, and you'll only find out with the right decision if they win on Saturday night against Villa. Because clearly, that's his priority and Real Madrid. And then I think it's City the following weekend, isn't it? City away. To put all those youngsters out, I know they still had some experience in there, but to put them there and against that very, very good, talented Crystal Palace side, I don't know. I sort of get why managers do it, and no one says anything if they go out and they win the game. But when you are beaten and you're beaten as easy as like that, when you're a massive club like Liverpool and they're going through what they are, we will only find out if it's the right decision if they beat Villa. If they don't beat Villa, then the pressure will mount massively on him. To counteract that, though, don't you think Esaak's been struggling with his groin? McAllister's not being up to full fitness, which is probably why he played. Graven Birch is being carrying something. Frimpong got a hamstring injury early doors. The goalkeeper Allyson's been out without the change with Mamma d'Achvili. I just think you can look at it two ways, and I think you have a valid point and a good argument. But in the grand scheme of things, in the bigger picture, if you could keep your first team players fit and give them a little bit of the rest, now would be the time to do that. Yeah, but then you need a result. Correct, correct. I don't think the word crisis is the right word, but they're in a sticky situation, Liverpool. If you look at the statistics, Al, they've lost six games since September the 27th, which is more than any other side in Europe's top five leagues, and they've also conceded in all of their last 10 games. It is a sticky moment. He's had to make a call, and he's made that call. They got it wrong, didn't he? Well, they've got it wrong in terms of the Carabao Cup, but maybe he's thinking, there's a lot of games to be played this season. There's a lot of time to go. There's a lot of Champions League matches, extra nowadays, of course, than there used to be because of the new league. Yeah, but you get done on a dodgy decision or a last-minute goal, and you think, okay, when you're getting done 3-0 and battered at Anfield, then that adds more pressure. What they didn't want last night was that, exactly what happened, going in against a really good palisade who battered them in front of their own fans. Palace fans are singing, "Can we play you every week?" That's when it turns into an awful decision. But the bigger picture is, he's left them out because he needs them ready for Saturday night, and he needs them ready for Tuesday evening against Real Madrid, Villa and Real Madrid. If they lose those two, then it's been a shocking decision because he's left them out because they need a rest and they need to try and get a bit of confidence in preparation for those games. So basically, they have to get and they have to win on Saturday evening for it to be the right decision. Can I just ask you, are you talking about from your opinion as a fan, a pundit, ex-player, would you have a difference of opinion if you were still in management or you just think, if you was in management at Liverpool, you would have just played your, I wouldn't say your best team, but more first team players, because it's interesting to know what your opinion or how managers think differently to us watching a game on the side. Well, he's never going to get any sympathy from anyone in terms of seeing that the squad depth, because he said about Manchester City afterwards that they made ten changes, I think, or nine changes from the weekend. But you could see in their squad was much better than the one that Liverpool put out last night. But he's not going to get any sympathy after spending, I don't know, 450 million in the summer, is he? So I'm saying it from everything, from the bigger picture, I guess, is that all teams make changes. But you have to also be conscious as that fans are paying really good money to go and see your team get a result, you know, not to see a lot of kids go out there and get battered by a very good Crystal Palace team. And we can't make this about Liverpool. We have to also see how great Crystal Palace were, and what a job he's doing there, because they've got some, as we've said so many times, some very, very good players, and that was a great performance. Don't forget, they're in Europe as well, you know? Absolutely. Crystal Palace. Yeah, and they had a poor result obviously in Europe a week or so ago, which was a surprise, but they've got time to turn that around. So let's have a word on Palace, because that's a great victory. Whoever you're playing, if it's at Liverpool, is mainly Saar as well. What about his goal, the one where he flicked it around the corner, and then got it back and then bent it in. What a goal, incredible. The way they passed it through and the ability and skill, and then to finish it off, brilliant. Some talented players in that team. Getting rid of Eze and then bringing in Pino, Jeremy Pino. What a player. He's been since he's come into the side. He's obviously, I'd say, slightly different to Eze, but plays in that role where he's really good on the ball, can see a pass, find space. I would say Eze was more of a dribbler at the start, especially when he was at QPR. I thought he's adapted his game a little bit, but Pino, he's just fit straight in. Not the only Pino I enjoyed last night, a nice bottle. I didn't enjoy Pino because I'm off the alcohol. Pino noir. Yeah, it was nice. While we watched the football, no better. Very nice. Did he cook gas all night? No, I actually went out for an early dinner last night and got back in time for the football, so yeah. Went to a place called River in Bards, Mark. Oh, lovely. Guys, can I, just going back on the Newcastle game, did you see the incident where I think it was Jed Spence for the corner? He went down to fashion his boots, fashion his laces. Thomas Frank's interview afterwards suggested that he wasn't happy with the referee at all for allowing the corner kick to be taken. Did you see it, Micah? No, I didn't see it. So the ball went out for a corner, Newcastle's corner, and Jed Spence's, there was some sort of tackle, and I think his laces became undone, and he had to take his boot off to put, and he had to put it back on, and he took nearly a minute to do that. And just as he got it on, and was running back into the box to pick up whoever or get his position, Newcastle took the corner and scored from the corner, and all of Spence fans were going mad, saying the referee should have waited a lot longer for him to get back in. Did you see it, guys? Yeah, I saw it, but I didn't. No, I mean, I'm not I think you've got to get on with it and get back, get your position, and then if you have to, if you have to put your boot on a minute later, then do it, but get your position first. Have you noticed, Micah, how he magnificently got it back to Newcastle, even though we, absolutely. Manchester City went a goal behind, which was, was a cracking goal that was scored, but they came back as, as you expected, they did. And it is true that when, you know, when Pep kind of juggles, they have got a big squad, haven't they? Where they, you know, you look at the team and you go, oh, there's a lot of talent still right throughout. Yeah, there is. Swansea could have made it two with a shot just past the post, but then I think Manchester City dominated without scoring at that time. And then once they scored a couple, it was nice to see Mamouche back, gain a goal, Ryan Scherke back from injury and Docku. Docku's goal was a slight deflection. A slight deflection. Well, I mean, a deflection there. It was a deflection. But yeah, their goal was amazing, wasn't it? Did you see it in the goal? Yeah. Baptiste Franco. I saw the Man City goals. Yeah, obviously I was at the game. I saw the Man City goals. It was amazing. The Swansea goal bent it right into the top corner. It was just effortless. Yeah, it was a really good goal. But for Man City, yeah, still not firing on all cylinders, but just doing what they need to do. That result against Villa last week was really frustrating because they didn't create a great deal. But yeah, back to normal service. Okay, let's take a break there and come back with a few of the other fixtures in a moment. Welcome back to the resties football with Alan Shearer, Micah Richards and me, Garrett Lenica discussing the Carabao Cup ties that we've had this week. Amongst those, well Arsenal continue to impress and he rotated a reasonable amount, but it also shows you the strength in depth that Arsenal now have. I thought Brighton gave a good fist to themselves, particularly in the first half, had chances. Kepa came into play, didn't he? May one or two really good saves, but they've won again another clean sheet. Just going to say that, yeah, and again, a clean sheet. I saw the Brighton a couple of chances that they went through one on one and missed it. But yeah, they keep on going Arsenal and they're looking incredibly strong and you're right with the squad that they've got. They've got a really good squad now with the players that they've brought in and the youngsters. I got some, I'm down when started last night, didn't he, as well and impressed. I know, 15. It's not 16 yet. It's incredible. Brilliant, isn't it? Arsenal actually became the first English side in top flight history to win six games in a month without conceding a goal. Top flight history, I'm shocked at that. But do you know they changed the whole of the back four as well? Look at this for a second string defense. Ben White, Mosqueira, is that how I pronounce it? Mosqueira. Hinkapie, I think it is. Hinkapie and Lewis Skelly. That is a second choice back four. It's ridiculous. That is ridiculous. And Arsenal now, they're really cooking, the cooking on something. But can we get rid of this narrative? Of set piece FC. Set pieces were always used in a great light before. A broadcastable, the table up if Arsenal didn't score from set pieces. I'm like, what's that got to do with anything? The new world market content, I think. It's ridiculous. It's ridiculous. Contents built with a U. We mentioned him briefly, but Max Downman. He had the most dribbles completed, the most fouls won and the most duels won at 15 years old. My goodness me. He's got to obviously get the balance right in terms of using him and playing him, looking to protect him and look after him. But bloody hell man, 15. It's like, wow, 15. It's incredible to go out and play on that stage and just look right and just look as if he belongs there. It's mad. What was you guys doing at 15? Me? I hadn't reached puberty. I used to hide in the showers, man. Honestly, I was a little boring. In all ways. Honestly, 15. His looks were bigger than his cock. Still are are. Do you know the one thing that doesn't stop growing are your bloody ears? How do you look in life? I mean, really? I mean, really? You absolute dick. Anyway, let me tell you what I said about him. He said, Max Downman is a gem. If I'm not going to play him, that means I'm blind. When you look at Max Downman in training, you have to play him. If you are not blind or I am blind, I know if you look at a passport, he's 15. He's just different. The feeling that I have is that genuinely, Max loves it here. He's huge Arsenal supporter and his family also. Hopefully for many years, he will be with us. Our tetra added with a scholarship contract signed, but also pro contract for 2026 already agreed ahead of the future. I mean, I mean, I think people are thinking of generational talent here. Maybe England has found one. England has got one special, but you have to be slightly hesitant, not building too much. Yeah, but you can't not talk about him. You have to see. You can't. It's like Lameen Yamal. We talked about him when he was 15 and 16. He was coming into the Barcelona team in similar circumstances, plays in a similar position. If there's something as exciting in terms of talent as Max Daman, then let's talk about him. Ultimately, a lot of how well he does will be how he handles this kind of thing. He seems to be obviously someone mature beyond his years, but it will be part and parcel of how well he does. He'll have to deal with fame at a very early age, which is not easy. We've seen it before with young talent. Someone like Wayne Rooney, remember when he came through as a little bit older, but I find it quite exciting. He's special, isn't he? He's special. I think the difference is that I see with him is normally you get thrown in at 15, 16, because you are physically developed and he's not, he's technically developed, which would say that he's going to be something special once. He's just got a window from, I'd say, 16 to 18 to keep developing at the same rate. And Arteta comes with these quotes, but he has to be playing also because you can't get 30 minutes here and then 90 minutes because other people are developing at a quicker rate than you'd be. Maybe he needs to go out on loan. I know that's maybe too early. I don't think he can go out on loan at 15. I know, but he's not going to get the game time. If he's that good, he will. But he plays in a position that Saka plays, so he's not. Well, I've seen him play in other positions. He could play number 10 and he could play the other side and all that sort of stuff, but the manager, the way he is, I would say, is on the side of being a little bit more defensive than Saka and then allowing the players to come on. But he's not going to play in head of Saka, but to keep developing, he needs to play. That would be my only worry. It's going to be really interesting following his career and how Arteta does deal with him. He's like anything. If you're that good, he'll find a way to play him. There's no question about that. Wolves Chelsea was quite an encounter. Producer John, he's not on today, so I think he must be in a state of depression or something. Bless him. They were getting battered, but they did at least show a little bit of spirit and came back and got themselves back into the game. When I saw the goals, I'm thinking, you're 2-0 down, you're playing out from the back and you're getting caught in the ball. And it's like, what are you doing? I mean, and then I'm here in the fan singing, you're getting sacked in the morning to the manager. And it's like, oh my goodness, I mean, they were terrible. But they had a bit of a fight back, didn't they? They got one just before half time, a little bit of a fight back second half. What about Gittin's goal, the fourth goal for Chelsea? Oh, the last one, yeah. How good was that? Absolute beauty, wasn't it? Yeah, class goal. You know, when you've got to sometimes try and help yourselves. I look at Wolves and the 2-0 down at home getting booed, and they're just like, well, there's some of that play from the back was like, what are you doing? I feel a little bit though. For the manager coach, he came in, didn't he? Last season, he did a really, really good job. And then what happens in the summer, they sell their best two players, Aitnori and Kunya. And they are really, really high-class footballers. And I mean, Aitnori's had a bit of an injury. He's just come back this season for Manchester City. Kunya's had injuries as well, but he's also played exceptionally on occasion for Manchester United. So if you lose your best two players and then don't really replace them, and I mean, what do they actually expect? And as usual, who will get the blame? The coach. And it just makes me feel like, what chance have you got? It's such a hard, hard game. You know more about coaching than me, being in that situation where you want more, but you can only work with what you've got. And that's the situation for Eris in at the moment, which is difficult. I remember interviewing him at Man City last season. It was at Man City, Wolves will play at Man City. And I believe what he said, it was going through a difficult time, but he turned it around. And he said, with more time, he's going to be a top Premier League manager. But if he's not got the tools to do it, what's he supposed to do? What is he actually supposed to do? And it was a good comeback yesterday, 3-0 down to come back and get free goals. He's big for them. It went free two, didn't it? Then it went to 4-2 and then 4-3. I think it was. You had DeLap sent off as well, didn't they? Another red card. Yeah, DeLap sent off. It's a stupid challenge, wasn't it? But it is quite impossible for a manager when he's not got the players to do what he wants. It's as simple as that. I don't suspect this Dan Strand Larson thing helped either, you know, when it was touch and go with the Newcastle. You're talking about Liverpool unsettling ESAC. You unsettled Strand Larson. I never mentioned that at all. You mentioned, you brought that up. It's all right when it works in your favour, isn't it? As you mentioned that, another red card, I mean, two yellows for DeLap. Having come back from injuring came on it. What was he doing? Second challenge is silly. When you're on the yellow card, then to go and do that, it's like, no wonder managers get frustrated and get angry with players sometimes when that happens, especially when you're on a run like they are in terms of the red cards. And he's just come back as well, isn't he, from injury? Well, elsewhere on Tuesday night, Brentford put five past Grimsby, didn't they? Wiccan Wanderers took full and all the way to penalties but missed out. Cardiff won the Battle of Wales after beating Wrexham two goals to one. That could have been for Wrexham but, alas, it wasn't. The quarterfinal draw, as you've already mentioned now, has been, you think, kind to Newcastle, full and fans. One might beg to differ. Man City got a home draw, Micah against Brentford. Cardiff Chelsea, Arsenal, Crystal Palace, Newcastle, Fulham. What a few days it's been for Brentford, by the way, beating Liverpool in the way they did and then putting five past Grimsby, knocked Man United out, didn't they, in the early round. So, what a week it's been for them. It's looking, it's looking promising there. Tough quarterfinal draw for them though. Who are you fancying, Micah? Who's your money on? What, for the whole thing? Yeah. He knows he wants to say Newcastle but he's stopped himself. What he's doing here, Alan, he's deciding whether he wants to go for Arsenal or Manchester City. I know exactly what he's thinking. No, I do like Newcastle. I think they're really explosive. I think you need to score more goals of what you have though. I think that's fair. I don't know if you've got the balance quite right. They're on the wings, that is, but you played a lot better. I like Palace. I really like Palace a lot. Tough draw by Arsenal. I think Arsenal beat them. Man City, I think it depends on the draw, but yeah, in a one-off game, I think Man City could beat anyone. Okay. Before we go, we need to announce the winner of this month's Fantasy Football Prize and before you go on to that, who's Bob of the Fantasy Football? Who is it? You, Alan. My son is useless. Anyway, we need to announce the Fantasy Football Prize. Now, I think we've cocked up a little bit with this because you'll recall that Dan Heimann had topped the league. After Mickie van De Ven's 23-point haul, he's done it again, Dan Heimann, and he's sneaked ahead. Now, he's obviously a very deserved winner, but the idea is not really to get the same people winning all the time, but he will get his prize. They've got a signed shirt, a different one, but from here on in, I think the way we're going to do it, we're just going to do it for the actual month itself. So that also gives everyone a chance that's not at the top, because obviously, if you're at the top, if you've run away with it, you win it every single month, and we don't want that. But we can't change the rules after we've announced them, but what we can do is we can change them from now. So even if you're near the bottom of the Fantasy Football League, if you have a really good month, you could still win a prize, even you, Micah. Guys, just a quick one, though. A lot of people are cheating. How do you cheat at Fantasy? There's a lot of websites out there using AI, technology, something that I'm a part of. I think you need to, and I've not used it, by the way, before you ask Alan, that it basically predicts the points that you're going to get, and it suggests transfers. I think to make it fair, everyone who's doing the league shouldn't be going on their websites. How can you stop them, though, if you've just announced it to the world? Well, from now on, from now on, when you've got to pay for some of these websites, not everyone wants to pay for it, Alan. Okay, and have you ever been on one of these websites? I mean, AI knows things, and it knows about, obviously, it takes information from everything, but it can't predict if somebody's going to play well, or get injured, or they can't. All the best players in the world on Fantasy Football are using some sort of AI tool. You think? Facts. But there's nothing in the rules that says you can't, is there? No, there's not. But, I mean, if you want to give out prizes every week, or every month. Everyone can use AI if they want to get into it, I suppose. You haven't got that address for the website, have you, please? Anyway, the next prize will be, we got another shirt signed by Marcus Rashford. He was kind enough to do that for us. We'll see you on Monday, and when we'll be reviewing this weekend's fixtures. But for now, goodbye from me. Goodbye from me. Goodbye from me. Have a great weekend.