Liverpool yet to peak as Burnley suffer identity crisis
The Game
The Times
3.2 • 1.5K Ratings
🗓️ 27 December 2018
⏱️ 42 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
After a Boxing Day full of goals and surprises, Natalie Sawyer is back alongside Alyson Rudd, Alan Smith and Paul Hirst to digest it all.
Manchester City had lost 2 out of 61 Premier League games and have now lost 3 of their last 4 after defeat to Leicester at the King Power Stadium. Are they simply missing the fatherly Fernandinho? And with Liverpool now 7 points clear of the champions, are the Reds only set to improve under Jurgen Klopp?
As for the Foxes, it’s been an incredible Christmas but does Claude Puel’s persona count against him? And does he have the power or is it the players?
Burnley are battered on Boxing Day 5-1 by Everton. Have they lost sense of who they are and how do they turn things around? And is Sean Dyche’s job safe no matter what?
Plus with Tottenham making it 11 goals in 2 games and with this season on course to be the highest scoring season in Premier League history, we ask whether the disparity between the haves and the have-nots is the contributing factor. And outside of Liverpool, is any team actually defending well?
Charlie Scott and Paddy von Behr provide their advice ahead of the fantasy football weekend. For free Fantasy Premier League tips from The Sweeper, visit thetimes.co.uk/fantasyfootball
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Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | Attention at all passengers. You can now book your train tickets on Uber and get 10% back in Uber credits to spend on your next train journey. |
| 0:11.0 | So no excuses not to visit your in-laws this Christmas. |
| 0:16.5 | Trains now on Uber. T's and C's apply check the Uber app. Hello and welcome to the game podcast from The Times. I'm Natalie Sawyer and |
| 0:36.0 | we're back after an incredible boxing day in the Premier League. |
| 0:39.2 | Alongside me in the studio it is Allison Rod and also joining me welcome Alan Smith |
| 0:44.7 | plus down the line we're joined by the man and the Manchester beats for the times that is |
| 0:48.4 | Paul Hurst. Later on we'll be looking at a beleaguered Burnley and the glut of goals in the Premier League this season. |
| 0:56.0 | But we start with another stunning result in the title race. |
| 0:59.8 | After defeat at home to Crystal Palace on Saturday, the Champions Manchester City |
| 1:04.0 | were beaten again by Leicester at the King Power Stadium on Boxing Day. |
| 1:08.8 | City have lost three of their last four, they'd only lost two of their previous 61 |
| 1:13.4 | in the Premier League prior to that. |
| 1:15.5 | Paul, what exactly is the problem then with Sissy at the moment? |
| 1:19.5 | He can sum it up in one name, one player, |
| 1:21.8 | that's Fernandez. |
| 1:23.0 | They miss Fernandez so much at Man City. |
| 1:27.0 | I remember going on tour with Man City |
| 1:30.2 | in Pep's first summer to China, |
| 1:32.0 | and he said it's not in one of his first press conferences that he saw marveled at Fernandino |
| 1:37.3 | said you know this guy can play ten positions he's you know he's such an |
| 1:41.4 | athlete such a professional and he's so important for the team. |
| 1:46.0 | And, you know, he's proved to be the case over the last couple of years. |
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