The Athletic

Hello and welcome to the weekend preview on the Athletic Football podcast sponsored by Bet365.

I'm Dan Bardell, joined as ever by my co-host George Ellick and Bet365 Steve Freeth to preview

the best of the weekend's Premier League action, which includes Salah's return after Egypt

failed to make it into Friday's World Cup draw, plus Manchester United v Leicester and Arsenal

yet again in Monday night action.

Steve, glad club football's back. I know you have an irrational hatred of the international break.

Of course. I mean, during that international breaks, the kids and the family do see me a lot more,

which I suppose is a good thing for them and me, of course, as well. Of course. So, yeah, yeah, and quite a few things happened as well, which I'm looking forward to hearing George's points of view later about. So, yeah, so I'm refreshed and looking forward to go, Dan, yeah. Yeah, George, you're usually very chilled, but I know you have got a rant coming up later in the show, but we'll save that for a later section.

But I enjoyed the international break. I thought I enjoyed the England games, enjoyed seeing some different players. But we are here to talk about the Premier League. Before we do get into that, remember you can sign up to the Athletic for just a pound a month for the first six months. To take advantage of that offer, just head to theathletic.com slash football pot game one is liverpool versus watford which is the saturday lunchtime kickoff and steve man city aren't playing until

three o'clock this is a rare opportunity for liverpool to go top does that kind of thing really

matter does it create a psychological pressure for the other team that falls behind even though

they've still got a game to play i I think it plays a small part, Dan. Yeah. It's a big old one. And Liverpool have been 10 to 1 for the title before, and they're now 7 to 4, Dan. So those odds have been witting away week by week as well. So finally poised. I mean, you cast your mind back to Christmas when they were 10 to 1 Liverpool, and they drew with spurs, they lost the Leicester, didn't they threw away that two-gold lead to Chelsea as well. We're all looking forward to that game, aren't we, on Grand National weekend, next weekend as well. It's going to be a huge, huge game. Yeah, I mean, George Man City's form isn't even Patcher? It's quite good. But Liverpool have just been relentless in what they're doing. I think they've won nine games in a row. They're just on incredible form. And it does kind of feel like they've got the momentum now. Yeah, it does. It's going to be an amazing weekend of sport. As Steve says, Grand National Weekend, Martyr's weekend, and the biggest game of Premier League football of the season.

It is, yeah, I mean, it feels to me like the international break has possibly come at a better time for Manchester City than for Liverpool.

You know, we mentioned on the show a couple of weeks ago that the Manchester United game, the Manchester Derby came at a good time for City as well because it came in a period where they weren't playing particularly well, but it gave them a different target effectively to aim at rather than just maintaining the title race. It was all important to win that Derby and maintain their dominance over United. And I think the international break also gives them a bit of a pause as well. I mean, clearly with both Liverpool and City, the

majority of their key players and less pulling out with well-timed injuries are playing for their

country. So it's not as if they've been with their feet up on the beach or work on the training

ground with their managers, but at the same time, a little pause and an opportunity to take

a bit of a breath in what has been a relentless season so far for both teams has been important so I mean city of favourites as Steve says I think that's right I think when you look at the teams that both still have to play it's not the case this weekend you know that the Watford game at home I think they're nine on favourites city away at Burnley. You still expect them to win it, but at the same time, it's probably a tougher task than the home game for Liverpool. But Liverpool still have Manchester United to host at home. They've got Tottenham to host. They've got the Merseyside Derby. You think they should see Everton off, but as ever, as we know, in Derby games, you're never quite sure.

And then two teams in Newcastle, and San Antonio, who've been in very good form this year so far away from home, and then a tough game on final day at home to Wools, unlike City, whose home games seem that bit easier. You've got a Brighton side who are very much on the beach. You've got a Watford team who, you know, Liverpool are playing this weekend.

And then the final game at home to Aston Villa, I guess it's comparable to the beach. You've got a Watford team who, you know, Liverpool are playing this weekend. And then the final game at home to Aston Villa, I guess it's comparable to the Wolves game.

So I think cities, fixtures marginally easier. They also have the advantage of playing at home in

...