Summary
Arsenal won their first Premier League title in 22 years after Manchester City drew 1-1 with Bournemouth. The episode features extensive analysis of Arsenal's championship-winning season, Pep Guardiola's legacy at Manchester City, and a major controversy at Liverpool where Mohamed Salah's critical post was liked by 12 current squad members, signaling potential dressing room unrest under manager Arne Slot.
Insights
- Arsenal's title win was built on defensive solidity and recruitment strategy rather than attacking flair, with David Raya and Declan Rice proving transformative signings that addressed previous weaknesses
- The 12 Liverpool players liking Salah's critical post represents a modern social media-driven mutiny that makes Slot's position untenable, as managers cannot recover from losing the dressing room
- Manchester City's transition period under Guardiola still yielded a double, suggesting the club's infrastructure and philosophy are resilient enough to weather managerial change
- Southampton's expulsion from the Championship playoff final for spying on Middlesbrough reflects how modern data analytics and surveillance make such tactics both unethical and strategically obsolete
- Arsenal's dominance next season depends less on their own improvement and more on whether Manchester City's transition and Liverpool's internal turmoil create a power vacuum in the Premier League
Trends
Social media as a tool for player dissent: Modern squad unrest now plays out publicly through Instagram likes, creating immediate pressure on managersDefensive-first football gaining legitimacy: Arsenal's title win validates Arteta's philosophy of clean sheets and set-piece efficiency over attacking spectacleManagerial transition risk at elite clubs: Guardiola's departure and potential Slot replacement highlight how institutional knowledge and player relationships are critical to sustained successRecruitment as competitive advantage: Both Arsenal and Manchester City's success tied directly to strategic signings addressing specific positional gapsChampionship governance tightening: EFL's willingness to expel Southampton for spying suggests stricter enforcement of competitive integrity rules across football
Topics
Arsenal Premier League Title Win 2024Pep Guardiola Legacy and Manchester City TransitionArne Slot Dressing Room Crisis at LiverpoolMohamed Salah Social Media MutinyPremier League Managerial Succession PlanningDefensive Football Philosophy in Modern FootballStrategic Player Recruitment and Transfer StrategyChampionship Playoff Final Spying ScandalLiverpool Squad Discipline and Player PowerManchester City Post-Guardiola EraArsenal Squad Depth and MaturityChampions League Final ImplicationsRelegation Battle and Survival OddsFootball Governance and Fair PlayNeymar World Cup Selection Controversy
Companies
ESPN
Broadcast partner and primary sponsor of the ESPN FC show covering Premier League and football analysis
Manchester City
Premier League club managed by Pep Guardiola, drew 1-1 with Bournemouth allowing Arsenal to clinch title
Arsenal
Won Premier League title for first time in 22 years, primary focus of episode analysis and discussion
Liverpool FC
Club experiencing dressing room crisis with 12 players liking Mohamed Salah's critical post about manager Arne Slot
Chelsea
Beat Spurs 2-1 with Enzo Fernandez scoring; linked to potential managerial changes with Javier Lozano
Tottenham Hotspur
Two points clear of West Ham in relegation battle; need draw against Everton to guarantee safety
Bournemouth
Drew 1-1 with Manchester City in final match; manager Andoni Iraola praised for tactical performance
Southampton
Expelled from Championship playoff final for spying on Middlesbrough ahead of semi-final match
Middlesbrough
Will face Hull City in Championship playoff final after Southampton's expulsion for spying violation
West Ham United
In relegation battle; must beat Leeds while hoping Spurs lose to Everton to avoid dropping down
People
Dan Thomas
Main host of ESPN FC episode covering Arsenal's title win and Premier League analysis
Stevie Nicol
Football analyst providing commentary on Arsenal's title win, Liverpool's dressing room crisis, and managerial transi...
Shaka Hislop
Football analyst discussing Arsenal's championship, Liverpool's player unrest, and competitive landscape
Don Hutchison
Former footballer providing expert analysis on Arsenal's title win, managerial performance, and player conduct issues
Beth Lindop
Liverpool expert discussing Arne Slot's position, Mohamed Salah's social media post, and dressing room dynamics
Mikel Arteta
Arsenal manager credited with building title-winning team through recruitment and defensive philosophy
Pep Guardiola
Manchester City manager whose departure is imminent; legacy discussed as greatest Premier League manager
Arne Slot
Liverpool manager facing potential job loss after 12 squad members liked Mohamed Salah's critical social media post
Mohamed Salah
Liverpool forward whose critical Instagram post about manager was liked by 12 current squad members, signaling dressi...
Enzo Fernandez
Chelsea midfielder scored in 2-1 victory over Spurs; linked to potential managerial changes at club
Andoni Iraola
Bournemouth manager praised for tactical performance in 1-1 draw with Manchester City; linked to Liverpool job
Declan Rice
Arsenal midfielder signed for over £100 million; key part of title-winning defensive strategy
David Raya
Arsenal goalkeeper acquisition praised as transformative signing improving defensive solidity
Neymar
Brazilian forward called up to World Cup squad by Carlo Ancelotti despite limited recent performances
Carlo Ancelotti
Brazil manager selecting Neymar for World Cup squad based on career achievements rather than current form
Quotes
"Arsenal fans can come out from behind the couch because they've done it they have crossed the line"
Dan Thomas•Opening segment
"They've been worthy champions. Yeah very much so and they kind of built the foundation of this victory in the first half of the season"
Don Hutchison•Early analysis
"All of it. Him and the hierarchy when you're planning the route and you're planning the style... he's got the first title in over 20 years"
Don Hutchison•Arteta credit discussion
"Once a manager loses the dressing room there's no coming back. Arnaut Slott cannot get 12 players back unless all 12 go"
Stevie Nicol•Liverpool dressing room analysis
"It's 100% the right thing to do. It's unethical I think it breaks laws. Southampton have admitted it they've done it three times"
Don Hutchison•Southampton spying scandal
Full Transcript
Hey sports fans the ESPN app has all of ESPN all in one place. The ESPN app is your home to thousands of live events ESPN shows and originals across every ESPN network and service. Now you can check if you already have ESPN unlimited as part of your TV package for no additional calls. Visit activate.espn.com to learn how to access your account or sign up then start streaming in the ESPN app. So all of ESPN all in one place. Sign up or activate now. These were the scenes at Arsenal's training ground as the full-time whistle blew Bournemouth 1 Manchester City 1 means the Gunners are your Premier League champions for the first time in 22 years. And then welcome into the ESPN FC studios I'm Dan Thomas joined by Shaq Hiss of Anas Stevie Nicol. Arsenal fans can come out from behind the couch because they've done it they have crossed the line Don Hutchinson joins us to reflect on our tetter side at winning the title. Don let's start with you deserving victors. Absolutely they've got the job done Dan I mean all that hard work all the graft all the pre-season the million times you train on the training ground and you prep in and all the hard work that goes into winning every single Premier League game. You have to say you have to congratulate them they've been worthy champions. Yeah very much so Stevie and they kind of built the foundation of this victory in the first half of the season. Yeah there's no question they were the best side in England and actually at times you could argue that they were the best side on the planet. The second part of the season didn't go quite the way they wanted but at the end of the day when that final whistle went at Bournemouth whatever reason you win the title it doesn't really matter the most important thing is you win the title and I guess if you're an Arsenal fan now you're thinking okay how do we continue this how do we keep this going because it was a nerdy end but now that's all put away that's all gone to bed and quite frankly this Arsenal team can turn up the start of next season and look to be as good for the rest of the campaign not just half the season but be at their best for the whole season. That is entirely possible because there's no question this will come everybody down and particularly our Teta. Yeah we've all got mates who are Arsenal fans who have been telling us it's not going to happen we've blown it again but this time they can wake up tomorrow morning knowing that it's done. Listen a lot of Arsenal fans are very nervous and with good cause. This is in London. These celebrations have been a long time coming and to the point that Arsenal have been the bridesmaids it seems season after season after season two years ago you can look at the Saliba injury as to maybe cost them a title then last season Saka's injury and that took a toll this time they got over the line. It was a lot closer than many of us expected maybe four or five months ago give Manchester City their credit and maybe more to the point the two signings and some men on Gehi of making a title race of this. But Arsenal down the stretch yes they give themselves just enough buffer in the first half of the season but as the guys have alluded to here over 38 games and yes we still have one to go somebody comes out champion at the end you cannot dispute that. How much credit should our Teta get for this Don? Oh all of it Don all of it him in the hierarchy when you're planning the route and you're planning the style and you know you look at Man City just very quickly and you look at two midfield players out playing at fullback you look at Arsenal the recruitment that they've done and you just think they're proper men playing at the back they want to they want to have clean sheets he bought David Ryder and when he bought David Ryder we were all going well he's not really an upgrade on Ramsdale well absolutely it's one of the best goalkeepers in the world at the moment so you look at them you see the numbers you see how hard they are to beat depends on what philosophy and style of football you like where their philosophy is you ain't going to score goals against us we're going to be hard to beat we're going to rely on set plays we're going to be buy people like Declan Rice who cost over a hundred million quid then you buy Yocca Reyes you've got homegrown talent like Saka you know the building and as Steve you said there that can look forward now to a completely different challenge in PSG and Champions League final have the summer off regroup have a half an eye on what you want to do go in forward you want to change the style and make them a little bit easier on the eye because City will come again you would imagine that Liverpool might come again and Chelsea which Abuelonzo might have a title charge if they get no European football but for Arsenal I think Artezza with it with a flak that he's that he gets the way he jumps around sometimes the touch line and the technical area it's not likeable it's not great you don't you don't latch on to it but who cares if you're an Arsenal fan you know he's your man that's got you the first title in over 20 years he has to come out of this with the enormous credit the amount of work that he's put in and this team has matured Don obviously last year we talk about their discipline issues this year no red cards no penalties conceded I mean it's a little bit of a miracle considering Gabrielle might have been sent off against Man City and Kai Habert should definitely have been sent off last night but saying that that's what hindered them in the past we sat here and we said listen the amount of red cards they got last year the amount of injuries they had is the lads have alluded to cost them so you put those two things together those things have definitely been rectified this season shall I ask it shall I ask it or not well go on ask it have I still got better this season or have the rest got worse well worse as compared to what I think City are better than they were last season there's no question to that City will desperately pull our season I think Liverpool have regressed from from where they where they were last season but in Liverpool maybe there's a lesson for for for Michel Arteta here in in terms of what you do in the summer on a slot Wednesdays title last year spends a lot of money on the squad when we when we sat here last summer beginning of August we thought it was money very well spent but you have a team that has ground out for as long as they have to be crowned as as Premier League champions now the question is how do you add to that does it upset that balance so though but see not losing problems that Michel Arteta wants to have in a summer such as this he'll deal with that when the time comes Arsenal of course will have the small math of a Champions League final but the big title is is the domestic league title did you want to answer my question shank um I think you've also got better on here everyone else got worse it's unfair it's unfair it's unfair to say anything other than Arsenal have gotten better right because they have gotten better I mean we were sitting here in the first part of the season talking about them as a best team in Europe because of the way they were playing when was the last we never said that about them previous years we said they were a good team we said they've got themselves in a great position to win the league but they didn't quite do it but this year at times they absolutely have been the best team in Europe now I think it's clear that the fact they haven't won a title for 22 years was in the back of their mind and it did affect our Teta that I think transformed onto players which made it hard for them to see it out even though they have done but guess what they're in the Champions League final as well so how can you say they're not better this year than they've previously been because they want to tell you they've been the best side and they're in the Champions League final as well so you can't see anything other than yes they are better that's right but it has helped that the other teams have regressed City has regressed if you want to say he and I argue about who's better who's worse this team did that I've just told you that Arsenal this season were the best team in Europe and on the planet and they're in the Champions League final and you want to sit and talk about is it the other teams being garbage there's a reason why they've won it unfair don't I think it's a fair question I think the honest answer is there's some way that lies I think both things are true I think Arsenal 100% have got better Liverpool have definitely got worse Man City are going through a transitional period and that's credit to Guardiola where your team and your club's going through a transitional period and yet you walk away with a double so I think the honest answer is with the points tally that they're on they're nowhere near hitting 100 points but who cares if you're an Arsenal fan so you have 100% got better but the challenge doesn't come from Liverpool this season it's not really been at the start of the season the best version of Man City so I think the question that you're asked Dan is a valid one and a fair one does this help or hinder them going forward looking short-term to the Champions League final I think losing the title if they had lost the title I think they're the kind of hangover the impacts are far greater I think it's a difficult come down after lifting after lifting this Premier League title it's a difficult come down just to get those emotions in check and almost start to fresh for the Champions League final against the team especially like like PSG that's difficult in itself I think it'd been far more difficult had they not won the title had City put them to the post that's a different set of emotions to deal with altogether absolutely helps them absolutely 100% helps them everything will be settled they've got the title wrapped up it's it's all done and dusted this is this is a free kit this is a free game for them really you think so absolutely they're going into this thinking we can win this game and by the way if we win this Premier League and the Champions League one season yeah 100% they they think they're just going to go and play had they lost had they not won the title this would have been a different ball game you talk about pressure you talk about people questioning them all of that has disappeared now it's just about going and playing Champions League final and you're just saying go play yes please it's interesting when we talk about titles you say it's always hard to defend Arsenal will definitely go into the start next season as favourites yes I think they will I think they will and I think I think the struggles they've had at times in the second part of the season is actually going to help them next season so so yeah and and rightly so they will be yeah teams will go out and spend money no question but I mean into the day would you rather be in Arsenal shoes with the squad they have because do they need to sign anybody I think we'd probably all say they could do with a proper bona fide 25 goals a season sent it forward but other than that they're good they're good to go everybody else is trying to catch up and try to figure a way out and try to get their squads better because Arsenal more question arguably has the best squad in the in the league not just the squads but I think as we said there's far more questions about everybody else on a slot at Liverpool yeah Morresca who's probably coming in at Manchester City those are questions that we're still not quite sure about we know about Arsenal we know about Altazza we know how deep the squad is I'm with Stevie that maybe they can still go out and get that 25 goal a season striker but I'm not sure that that player is out there or out there and available to Arsenal but right now they've proved themselves the best team in the league continue to build on that let everybody else worry about their questions what they have to do as long as Arsenal just keep things ticking over keep things pretty much as they are yeah to your question they start this season's favourite so does this start a dominant period for Arsenal don't I think I think that's impossible Dan because I think many people will think in dominant period for Liverpool went won the title last year I think it all depends on what man city and Guardiola do your question when when you're saying about starting favourites next year if Guardiola stays at Man City I think as I said before transitional period coming away with a double and they will go again in the summer I wouldn't have put Arsenal down as favourites I would have had them 50-50 with with Man City the fact that if Guardiola goes is Muresca going to come in and win a title in his first season highly unlikely so all the building blocks are in place if you ask not our teta there's probably no way where you need to strengthen maybe a little bit on the bench but you know he's got the Mavericks in the likes of Ezz he's got Madiwake he's got front men he's got goals he's got defenders that want to defend he's got loads of full backs that as I said before really want to defend and put their bodies on the line top-class goalkeeper be very hard to see where he goes in the summer and brings in that sort of elite player because their squad is unbelievably strong. Don didn't you start that answer by saying no this won't be a dominant period for Arsenal and now you've just told us why it's going to be? Well no because I said if Guardiola stays I won't be. Why are you on this going Don maybe you've been for the last 24 hours? Well Man City happens to have anything so I'll wait on that one I agree I think he's probably gone as Muresca kind of come in and win the league no so dominance is back-to-back titles yes are they going to win it four years on the spin highly unlikely because teams will come again but as the Slats have said without touching a thing Arsenal you would imagine would go into the start of the next season favorites. Let's just remind you then how the Premier League looks after today's game remember Manchester City had to win on the south coast against Bournemouth they can only manage a 1-1 draw Bournemouth probably should have won that game comfortably in the end so what that means is that Bournemouth sits sixth in the table Liverpool fifth all to play for in that regard for Manchester City reflection of course of Pep Guardiola leaving his penultimate game with that match against Bournemouth. Don thoughts on what we've heard or what you've just heard now? Well I don't think Bournemouth with the goal difference are going to overtake Liverpool so that's them with Champions League football I was you know a little bit you know on the on the Man City Bournemouth game I never really got the sense that Man City played poorly tonight I thought Bournemouth were unbelievable I thought Irohola as a manager now and I was watching that unfold and watching the way he manages his team he's lost players he's improved players he took the game to Man City they should have won the game David Brooks could have scored a couple of goals later on they could have won it by three or four I mean he's still missed a chance early on if I was Liverpool now I would be sniffing all over Irohola because I think he's a top-class manager and yeah Champions League places are sorted I would imagine. Don just a reflection if I ask you what influence Pep has had on the Premier League what would you say? Oh my days I mean you can't sum it up it's a three-hour show I think the fact that everyone has tried to copy what Pep does whether it's false nines whether it's inverted fullbacks I think you'll go down in my opinion is the greatest Premier League manager of all time I think that debate if you're a Man United fan you'd latch on to still being furgy I think the way Pep's done things and he's been a game changer and everyone's tried to copy him the amount of trophies as I said getting a hundred points winning titles playing a brand of football that everyone's copied I think he goes down as being the best. The boys talked about it yesterday the possibility of Enzo Moretz are coming in to replace him. It sort of feels logical because Moretz has obviously won trophies as a youth team coach at Man City he was at Man City when under Guardiola when they won the treble so he's a guy I think that the hierarchy at Man City sort of trust and the know-how he thinks of the game and his philosophy because he's worked there before and as I said worked with Guardiola when they won the treble so it feels like unless you're going to go all out for Vincent Company that might be a one where you leave alone for a couple years and Company might be the man after Moresca it feels like the obvious choice. He's got huge shoes to fill isn't he just a reminder of what Pep has done during his time at Manchester City and it's an extraordinary resume six Premier League titles of course that champions the made it three FA cups this weekend five league cups a World Cup FIFA Club World Cup and a Super Cup as well to boot. Now one other game today Chavuilonso not in charge of Chelsea yet as they were taking on at Spurs for the visitors of course this is all about getting a point to guarantee safety however that was a big mountain to climb once Enzo did this. It's a fantastic strike and the goalie the first time you see that you think how come the goalie gets nowhere near it but then actually when you look from this angle you know the pace on the ball look how it moves the keeper's got no chance of saving that. Into the second half Enzo with the assist this time as he sets up Santos to make it 2-0. Yeah it's a really nice nice cushion ball by Enzo the far post Santos just following in all alone six yards out and the van can't make up the ground quickly enough easy finish. And there was some hope though with 15 minutes to go as Richarlison would make the most of poor clearance from Cuccarella to make it 2-1. It's right place right time actually had an opportunity just before this but he didn't miss this one. Kamely puts it away past Sanchez and gives them some hope. Not enough though as it would be Chelsea would be victorious beating Spurs by two goals to one so let's just take a look at how things stand at the bottom of the table going in to the final round of matches. Spurs two points clear of West Ham the mass is simple if they get a draw in their final match then they are safe just a reminder who everyone is facing Spurs take on Everton it's West Ham against Leeds. Don Atchison is still with us. Don? Yeah I mean it's in Spurs' hands don't get me wrong I mean they just need a draw against Everton but it's going to be Carnage on the last day these are the best days when you tune into football and there's there's Jeopardy all over the place apart from the title would have been nice if that had went down to the last day of the season but that's done so there's there's European spots to play for that's the big one that everyone's going to be keeping an eye on though who's going to go down there's going to be West Ham there's going to be Spurs so West Ham need to obviously win the game and Spurs need to lose it for West Ham to stay up so there's Jeopardy all over the place but if you if you're being truthful being an ex-West Ham player you'd rather be where Spurs are. Yeah of course Don so percentages I'm going to go 70-30 in Spurs' favour. 70-30. Shaka, is that former hammer of the year? Yeah I think I think that that's fair I still feel West Ham at home to Leeds West Ham have been good at home the most part that this year. Spurs I'm at home 70-30 is fair if I'm a Spurs fan I'm really nervous all this year. Well of course you're nervous but 70-30 seems quite generous. Aye, it's at least 80-20. How's West Ham going to beat Leeds? West Ham have only lost two games at home since the beginning of January. How's West Ham going to beat Leeds? West Ham have got to win. West Ham have been good at home. We saw them at a weekend West Ham opening up to play because they knew they had to win a game and what had happened the defences and absolute shambles by the way they cannot afford to open up and play against anybody. Never mind Leeds. Every time they're talking about Leeds they're safe Leeds won't be Leeds regardless will be up for this game they will be. I don't see how West Ham win I don't and what they're saying is win or not doesn't really matter because Spurs West Ham won't win so it won't matter what Spurs do. So it's 100-0 is what you're saying. It's probably 90-10. It's 90-10. Is it possible West Ham beat Leeds? Yes it's possible but is it likely? No because they can't defend to save their lives. On extra time we'll be answering some of your questions a lot of them from Arsenal fans as always you can check that out over on our YouTube channel. Right then we've talked at length oh look at the spotlights the fancy lighting is out for Mo Salah's post which obviously he made at the weekend. We talked a lot about the timing of it Stevie of course described it as classless. I want to go a little bit deeper in it as who I welcome Beth is with us of course our Liverpool correspondent Don is still with us as well. Beth I just want to talk if I may about who is like this post and as tedious as this is surely it says a lot. The likes of Sobyslide, Virts, Kanate, Robertson, Ekotike, Frimpong, you've got Gappo as well, Luis Diaz, lots of old players. It seems strange that for such a radical post from a player who is leaving the club that it seems to have hit a nerve with so many players who are still involved with this team and what does that tell us about what's going on in the dressing room? Yeah well the optics certainly don't look very good for Arna Slott. I mean it's one thing having Tele put the post out but as you say to have I think it's 12 current first team squad members to it to have liked the post is pretty damning. Now listen that's for the club to sort of find out what the intention was behind the players liking it because you know what social media is like nowadays you can just be scrolling through and you might just you know see a post from your friend and like it. It might be not necessarily an endorsement of what Salarice said but it does feel pretty damning and I think I mean there's a point to be made I think six of the players who liked it were on the pitch at Aston Villa on Friday night so you know if they're talking about sort of standards not being good enough then they probably need to look a little bit closer to home as well but it is a worry and I think there has been this sense for a little while now that the dressing room isn't as harmonious as it has been in previous seasons and that's something that the club needs to look at because ultimately if the players aren't happy with the manager and players should never be allowed to decide a manager's future that should always come down to the people at the top of the club but ultimately those players have to be listened to and if a large wave of them as it seems from this post aren't happy with the direction the club's going in then then the hierarchy have to listen to those concerns. Let's talk about the hierarchy a little bit shall we Beth? I think everyone was quite stunned that there was there was no speculation it seemed around Liverpool the media about Slott's future when Xavier Lonso was being linked to Chelsea because from the outside looking in we thought well maybe Chelsea's being used as a pawn for a bidding war maybe this is what's going to happen in the end Xavier Lonso will make the move but there doesn't seem to be certainly what we've been hearing any sort of murmurs about Arnav Slott heading towards the exit according to the hierarchy which seems strange when you've got clear in fighting and just terrible football for the last few months on the pitch. Yeah I mean the messaging has been consistent throughout the season you know even in the midst of that really rough patch in the autumn when they lost nine games in 12 you know there was no real sign that the management were looking at an alternative to Arnav Slott and they've been wanting to give him time and that you know right up until now that has still been the message there's a feeling at the top of the club that he's been dealt a poor hand this season and you know I think there's an element of that that's true in terms of the injuries to it's not just the amount of injuries it's the key players that have been injured the positions that have been problematic centre forward right back they've been an issue all season and then there's obviously the difficulty of what happens in the summer and the the hangover of that I guess into into this season so I think the club feel like there are reasons behind the Liverpool's poor form however you know I think a lot of fans feel and I would probably concur with this is that doesn't explain you know why the football has been so poor so consistently and with very little sign of things improving so it did feel like Javier Lonzo was the the obvious choice to replace to replace Arnav Slott if Liverpool looking to do that obviously now he's off the market and that probably points to the fact more that that Liverpool are going to stick with him and if they're not then they've done a very good job at keeping it quiet maybe it's a case of getting to the end of the season and then they've you know they've got a master plan to get somebody else in but I think when you look at the candidates that are out there at the moment I'm not quite sure there is a sort of one transformative manager that you can look at and say you know they're nailed on to come in and turn this this team's fortunes around. Stevie if you have 12 players who are thinking along the same lines as Mohamed Salah and you're the hierarchy how could you possibly keep this manager? I mean it seems unlikely and I understand what Beth was saying about you know it's your teammate you probably don't read it some of them will click it but 12 of them it seems unlikely that 12 of them just blindly tick the box that means that the majority of you are so-called senior and best players I agree with Mohamed Salah again if you're the hierarchy how can you keep the same guy in charge when you know that half the squad doesn't want anything to do with him that that it seems kind of straightforward. It's not only half the squad you kind of think how can you not read the room a little bit Beth in that there's been booze so much lately aimed at slots during those matches? Yeah and that's been for me the most compelling argument to make a change this summer because I think Liverpool's hierarchy might be prepared to be patient it might be prepared to give him time but ultimately if the match going fans aren't prepared to do that if they're going to be on his back from from minute one next season which I think they will be if there's no changes made unless it it could be a freshly I still think I think whoever's in charge next season it will be a better season because I think they will fill some of those gaps in the squad and I think it will be a little bit of a fresh start in terms of you know Mohsala won't be at the club it'll be a it'll be a new Liverpool team I guess but I think you know Liverpool lose one of the first couple of games particularly you know you can just imagine it the fixtures dropping it in a couple of weeks and they go away to Stanford Bridge, Shabby Alonso's Chelsea and they lose there you know the level of toxicity that there would be would make what feels like a difficult position already for Arnav Slott pretty much untenable and then you're in a position where you're in October you're in November the managerial market's not maybe as strong as it will be this summer and you're having to make a change and almost another season has been written off and I think you know obviously you guys were talking about Arsenal earlier on and you know they've got a really strong squad but I still don't think it's used to look at the Manchester City teams under Pep Guardiola a few years ago when they were at the very best and you always felt they were clear favourites the clear ones to be I don't know that Arsenal or any team now is is capable of going to win the league three four years in a row so you know I think this season has proved that if you can just be consistent then you can be in and around the title and I think Liverpool's hierarchy needs to be looking at next season as an opportunity to try and get you know significantly closer to the title and they did this season and and if they end up having to write off three months of next season then they're not going to be in that position so yeah I think it's going to be incredibly hard I can't think in in in my you know as far as I know that a manager has turned sort of fan sentiment around the way that Arnav Slott would have to do to be successful in the long term at Liverpool. What are Liverpool doing Don? Do you know what Don I think some of those players or all of those players that like that should be ashamed of themselves because Instagram now is like the modern media can you imagine being in the media years ago before Instagram was even invented and you coming out in the press and go yeah I grew a mosa-la I grew a mosa-la and twelve of them done it you get fine two weeks wages some of those fact some of those players must be should be ashamed of themselves the way the heaped all this pressure on the manager and it looks like a clear case because of the mutiny that's came out since it's like Arnav Slott's lost that dressing room it's it's just shambolic it's very unlivable like it's it's it's it's obviously the modern way because of social media and Instagram the way they've liked the post but you know Curtis Jones coming out and liking Mo Salas Tweet and calling for heavy metal football this is a guy in the Jurgen Klopp I couldn't get a game because he took too many touches on the ball so him claiming they should go back to heavy metal football you know that was never in Curtis Jones's remit easy play that hogs the ball wants to take too many touches I find it very very uncomfortable that the majority of this Liverpool dressing room could potentially cost their manager a job it's all quite toxic Sharon it is it's it's really odd to sit here and kind of witness on only one hand I think back to a couple of years ago when when Mo Salah had something to say or two or about Jurgen Klopp and kind of suggested that Mo Salah might be on his way out but this feels so very different to to that Mo Salah on his way out that's definitive kind of fires this parting shot odd parting shot I really don't know what to make of it in in that but what's next especially considering that Arnaut Slott by the looks of it is going to continue as manager how how do you fix this I just for all their problems and for all the excuses that you may want to offer in in Arnaut Slott's defense I'm not sure how you get this dressing room back and we've said this time and time again over any number of clubs once a manager loses the dressing room there's no coming back Arnaut Slott cannot get 12 players back unless all 12 go right and that's not happening as we know it's always the manager that has to go and so if you have 12 players who are who are basically saying they don't want him to do with this guy there's only one thing that can happen and if it doesn't happen don't expect Liverpool at start of the season to be winning games and back to what we thought we were going to get last year it does seem that Slott's in a position where these job is untenable it really does but to that point right and this is the thing that kind of amazes me as well is doesn't senior manager man to club ownership how don't they know this four or five months ago is none of this kind of right it's it must have exactly it seems bubbling under the surface five or six months ago right does this all just kind of go unseen up until this week and now all of a sudden um Javier Longs of sign for Chelsea yeah so it there's a disconnect somewhere there well first of all if this is and you kind of have that this is not just happened this week yep so therefore club ownership um have just been flying blind and I really don't understand it okay well Beth the good news is that Liverpool are in the Champions League next season that is sorted obviously after the draw today so what is going to happen on Slott will start Salah yeah he won't just like leave him on the bench for the 90 minutes just drop him here he will drop him off drop him off let me tell you I I would have caught the managers at Liverpool yes in a similar situation yeah and I can guarantee they wouldn't be playing my arm and Salah right I can guarantee mr mr Dalglesham mr. Soonus had that had played done that to them I would probably you know what they probably wouldn't even put them in the squad right that's how that's how Mr Ferguson I imagine would be the same 100% he probably wouldn't let Fergie wouldn't let him near the ground so what's going to happen Beth I think um I think that the difficult thing for for Arna Slott is he's got very little capital in terms of you know his standing within the fan base so most Salah in spite of what he's done in spite of the fact that we may sit here and think it's wrong he's absolutely adored by the Liverpool fans and rightly so because of what he's done over the past nine years so they're going to side with him most of them and if Arna Slott denies him or is seen to be denying him the chance to have his last farewell Salah's not going to take that well and possibly will say another few things that that makes Slott pretty uncomfortable um so I think Slott's just got to to take the moral high ground here let him have his moment I think to be fair he's got an excuse not to start him because Salah was only back on the bench at Aston Villa having been out with a muscle injury so we might not start him anyway purely for fitness reasons I think now that there is less riding on the match um unless Liverpool get beat about four or five male which wouldn't put put it past them this season it will probably be a fitting way this season to end um you know it's unlikely um it's unlikely that that's going to happen um so it's maybe less less riding on it I think just going back to what you guys were saying though about the um the management um and the people making the decisions and how are they not seeing this that's my biggest concern is is that you know Richard Hughes who is the sporting director and Michael Edwards who is above him and and helps with that decision making and works for FSG but is still involved with Liverpool both of them as as Arna Slott does only have one year left on their contract um and there's been a lot of speculation about Richard Hughes and his future and the and the club insists that he's committed but the links to Saudi Arabia won't go away and and you do worry that you know these people who are only sort of connected to the club for the short term as things stand are making long-term decisions decisions that could have long-term ramifications about the club um you know we could be in a position where Richard Hughes isn't here to make the decision about a manager in October or November um so those are you know it almost has to go above them I think it needs to come down to to people at FSG to look at the situation holistically and say right you know what's happening in the long term here because at the minute it feels like there's so much uncertainty at Liverpool and that's not helping anyone. One thing though is certain and boy is this a positive for the start of next season you've seen this what the kit is going to be the nice oh boy oh yes look at that oh boy that is a good strip yeah yeah there you are happy with that absolutely beautiful yeah I think Stevie we're the best here of course he did yeah yeah he should have brought Stevie back to bottle in Newkitt oh yes they should have you back in the on absolutely was that the kit you wore when you won the player of the year was it the year before I can't remember done okay it was a couple years ago yes okay Beth thank you very much much appreciated just to remind her plenty more reaction to what we've seen uh at Anfield on our youtube page go to ESPNFC and subscribe drama in the championship today now it was supposed to be whole against Southampton in the playoff final of course the winner of that gets a place in the Premier League next season Southampton have been kicked out so it will be Middlesbrough against whole the reason they've been kicked out is because they were caught spying on Middlesbrough ahead of the semi-finals where of course they defeated K Murray's side but now Burrura back they will face hole in the final don Hutchison is here don't no messing around from the championship Sam to will appeal tomorrow but as it stands they are out of this competition right decision 100% I never thought the EFL would have the gumption to do this and go through it but they've done the right thing I think the news over the last sort of I don't know 12 hours or so it's not the first time they've done this Southampton have admitted it they've done it twice before so three times have done this this season rightly so 100% the right thing to do it's unethical I think it breaks laws I'm reading today that the manager might be in trouble in terms of his job he might get a long-term ban between six and 18 months so I was stunned that the news broke the way it did because I thought heavy fine in my heart a heart it's 100% the right thing to do and good on the EFL do you agree yeah yeah I'm with Don Fully it's perfect fit what a stupid thing to do do you know it almost seems moronic that if this was happening 40 years ago you could somewhat understand it but in today's game where you've got more analysts more video more game you could you could you could write you can find out what I had for breakfast before a game but yeah you're stupid enough to try and be clever and send somebody to watch training yeah it's really moronic and absolutely deserve what they get you think for me as well there was there was mentions of Oxford and Ipswich in this yes so it's not a one-off yeah and the fact that there are other other teams mentioned leads me to believe leads me to think maybe cynically that they've done this time and time again those are the times that they got caught so I I am with everything that everybody said here absolutely ridiculous given the amount of data that's available to you anytime you put somebody in fatigues and send them up a treat and spy on train how stupid is that I don't think they did that I don't think that's what I'm saying about dress him up and then bushes I look up with some some twigs and then they hang out on the tree that's absolutely how I see this oh somebody's just sitting apparently what happened so he was on the golf course that looks over it and before before he went to look he bought a coffee at the golf course they looked at the video found out who was bish bash boss they're like what's that what's that tree doing drinking coffee having a golf course is owned by Steve Gibson before I check all for what oh god here we go just take a look at um hole in borough when they've met in previous occasions uh hole one one nil middlesbrough one four one who's exciting oh boy matthew schoenja mechester you know what you're sorry neymar oh this absolutely blew up as you can imagine in brazil and beyond uh neymar plus 25 others and cellotti including the brazilian in the world cup squad they discussed it at length on football americas yesterday he has been called up by carlantelot not because of what he has done on the field not because of what he has played for santos but what he has already achieved at his career this is far more of a political decision by carlantelotti than a sporting decision by carlantelotti he is kicking this can down the road I think he's thinking not only the mentorship the leadership but in a moment of crisis within a game a moment of magic will he be a starter I don't think so if this were a sporting decision there is no doubt in my mind that this player does not deserve to be part of this world cup this gave you a sporting case there could be moments on the field when you need a player of his creativity what do you think would have been the reaction if an cernotti would have said no neymar for the world cup it would be a nightmare for sure I don't see brazil as one of the two or three best teams in the world now the expectation in brazil it's always to win the world cup well according to the bookies they are the four favorites to win the world cup behind spain france and of course england you can catch that full episode of football americas now available on espn plus it is quite the day isn't it next sunday in la liga oh saturday sorry in la liga all these teams vying for survival uh miyorka the most likely to go down along with girona however elche still very much in the mix osasuna and levante as well are far from safe two teams will go down women's champions league final is live on espn deportes 12 p.m eastern balsa against leonard's and they take a look at that on the next edition of football w which actually is available now on espn plus it is the polkao final by munic against stuttgart next saturday our coverage starts 130 eastern on espn plus miyork tomorrow is the europe league final and get your money on fryberg because we all think it's going to win this game um don's gone for a full what don no contest you hate german football oh more arsenal celebration to end they all gathered at the training ground to watch the match together fireworks going off as well outside of the emirates and a really nice picture there of the arsenal players around the premier league trophy that is it that brings us the end of today show we just find it why have they got the trading kill i don't know steven it's 10 o'clock at night when the when the final whistle went maybe they sleep in their arsenal training kit well there's no wrong time to be better steven oh boy welcome into the latest edition of extra time don is here as is shacken steamy thank you for your questions are still fans sometimes i maybe don't understand what this segment's about just not questions just statements quite a lot of them abusive towards us despite winning the league congratulations we talked at length and we uh about the gunners win their first league in 22 years steven wasn't quite sure why everyone was in their training kit but that's just the way it is just the collective nature that's what's brought them together and brought them success it's not normal it's not normal you know somebody's house around a pub and where was the champagne by the way i never saw any champagne around i don't know maybe that's what your boss never mind it really kids just maybe they were drunk on success percentage for us all winning the premier league don 100% of just 100 to zero yeah good right next for all let's go uh next season next season uh i think everyone said liverpool are gonna win it this start this season i'm gonna burn i said i said i said i said i said i said i said i said i said i'm still gonna win it don actually at the start this is the job did you hold on yep thank you so well you've heard so much then i don't hate us i don't hate you sir you said what was your shot there shuck there's no wrong time to be better you said yeah that's helped me i guess at the end of the show that's why they were they were wearing a training kit until the clock oh yeah okay don't set this chance to ask someone that's our next season 70 go on there you go 70% wow hi well i'm saying i don't know 50 50% yes yeah 50 50% yeah all right we will somebody somebody'll battle them for it yeah we will hold on to his 70 all right describe arsels premier league winning season in one word winning ha ha ha that's the best cup holder ever copped out congratulations he's terrible what do you want us to say that's the second best cup all right all right jammy okay jammy which is lucky if you need some james w1 uh don stingy stingy yeah can't score against them oh stingy at the buck okay and shaka overdue oh oh nice very nice very smart very smart very very good stevie do you think the same thing that happened well what about you you didn't give us a word the question is not addressed to me stevie do you think the same thing that happened to live up or when clock left is going to happen to city when pet leaves or has the decline happened already well if we did win the game i'm supposed to say that'd be great oh boy oh god well let's if we're if if we're looking at percentages the percentages that it's going to be tough for city when he changed the manager it's going to be high just because you know when somebody like pep leaves as we've seen with the likes of fergie the expectation doesn't change even though peps leaving you know all of a sudden the hierarchy man said i'm going to go well peps leaving so we don't mind if we don't do that well this year because we're rebuilding or a new manager that's not how it was man said they will absolutely expect to be challenging for the premier league and the champions league so it's it's more likely that it doesn't work than it than it carries on put it that way sorry ah sure is that clear for you or something no no oh boy steve there's no better time to be right than when you're once you thought it was it there's no wrong time to be there there's no right to you there's no better time to be wrong oh steve oh you played in the world cup where some of the best that qualified if they had enough points does this affect your strategy and how does it differ from the usual two through systems no no you got you just remind us who was in your group we had uh denmark uragwai and west germany oh wow so basically those who've been good at death as they call it yes but you step on the field and you're trying to win every game okay basically yeah unless something falls in your lap like the germans and the austrians one year well they both qualified if they drew and they sort of yes but yeah you can't you can't try and be too clever you just got you're trying to win your game don't percent chance that middles were a win san hampton have also thrown out of the playoff final because of spying do you know it's just got it's just stinks of everything that hullabit middles were in the final okay just hope it doesn't happen why i'm a massive advocate of north east football being as strong as possible so i want borough in the premier league alongside sunlin and newcastle um where's hollaberry hollaberry where's hollaberry where's hollaberry i'm a strong advocate of the west of scotland football being strong isn't hollaberry steve isn't hollaberry steve when i when i say that on social media newcastle fans absolutely one sunlin relegated shacka knows having lived up there played up there the hatred is the hatred but i i take a more balanced view i think the games are better when you've got the northeast darbys that's why i want borough in it as well so percentage chance of borough win 60 40 borough 60 40 borough doesn't make any difference to whole that it's different opponents they don't know where i would i would suggest that the spies go to the wrong ground i i would i would have thought south hampton it was i'm having to do this for me what is this fun the whole thing is fun well i think south hampton were favorites going into the game when they're not against oh yes so you don't know well as far as i'm aware maybe donald helped me here as far as i'm aware south hampton from what i've seen were probably the best side so if they're not if they're not involved anymore then you're delighted if you're all that you're playing middlesbrough yeah how big in the comments side sorry don't good side borough you know steve good football inside who or lost oh didn't they san anton in extra time lost went a long way did all right can't be that good uh how big of an accomplishment was it for our teta considering the spending power of city don um well i think he spent a lot of money or i still have spent about one and a half billion along the way so i think everyone's i'm not i'm not sure money comes into the into the chat anymore i live up to spend a billion chelsea spent a billion and a half it's just the numbers that the big clubs are spending so i think the achievement comes from the work that our teta's done over the five years because he's came close a couple of times and the pressure was on because you know a lot of talk is if our teta didn't get over the line this time he might not have been in charge next season so i think that's where the credit has to be has to come from rather than put that down to a money thing don what do you think rand sonio can say leaving nappily italy national team job in his sights now yeah it stinks of him taking the uh the the national job and probably murto sorry from lazio who's done a good job there under a transfer embargo he's the favorite to go into nappily uh he's been there before so it's it feels like that's the route final question my kids have no interest in soga but they both asked me today if the hincape incident was real i wanted to show it just for fun but apparently we couldn't blur the buttocks uh don have you had a wardrope my function like in kappa yesterday everyone's had that everyone's had it no we haven't everyone's had it every player's had that you've never exposed your buttocks to people i don't know nope no it's a dog thing don't it it's supposed to be close stevie with them little tight shorts on and then he does shorts one on no that's not the whole dog i mean not as bad as that don't get me wrong not as bad as that but we we've all been close honestly no i don't think no i did a weird dog couple with everybody well let's find out don't what happened to you well when you're tossing in midfield i mean they not fell down oh they're they're like they're longer shorts than the old days they're longer shorts and the mariner shorts are always oh there's all the arsenal ones with the elders yeah although surely the length of the short doesn't affect the exposure of the bottom because they're all in the same area that it's from the waist down isn't it what if i if you pull my shorts down doesn't make a difference if i've got long short short shorts trousers on it's the same distance from the belt line to the bottom of the butter what is he giving us a lot of thought don't what is he on the book that's a lot of thought well because don's saying the short shorts would be easier to expose the rear end but surely it doesn't really make a difference because the waistband is the same if you've got short shorts or long shorts what if it's going off the way i haven't quite worked into it as much as you want so what if it's going up the way so don't have a wedge so you're like a wedgie like a wedgie you like a wedgie exposure but surely you've got that's what that's what that's short so i've got underwear underneath don't understand your slips giving you a wedge a bit not your shorts see these bob didn't used to wear underwear they used to wear the old jockstraps hi right yeah i used to wear slips but a lot of the guys wore jockstrap what was the preference or slips why just uncomfortable jockstrap right yeah yeah a terrible invention yeah right jockstrap all right don let's go back to your incident no i mean i wasn't i wasn't full in capi abe i think i've had it i think i've had one or two over the years where you're having a tussle in your wrestling and you get fouled to the floor your shorts come a little bit down you might just see you get a little peek all right i won't i won't say it's okay move on yeah but we all thought it we'll see it but we all thought that we all we all forget yeah okay on that special note ESPNFC return to its quakes you have a little peek