Leeds' SWAGGER 🆚 Arsenal, Chelsea IMPRESSED & Liverpool-Man City ahead in Premier League ⚽ | ESPN FC

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Leeds' swagger, Arsenal's flaws and Chelsea's defensive questions — Liverpool vs Manchester City preview

The show reviews Arsenal's unconvincing display against Leeds, discusses the attacking strengths and defensive concerns behind Chelsea's big win at Bournemouth, and touches on Jordan Henderson and Pedro. It then previews Liverpool vs Manchester City, with the panel agreeing that off-field noise should not decide the game.

Frank Laboeuf and Craig Burley join Kay Murray on ESPN FC to discuss the latest Premier League action, including: 0:00 Arsenal 2-1 Leeds 4:15 Chelsea 5-1 Bournemouth 9:17 Liverpool-Manchester City preview ✔️ Subscribe to ESPN Unlimited: https://plus.espn.com/ ESPN ESPNFC

Transcript

For the most part, Lead United were excellent >> and it does put Arsenal level on points with Man City ahead of Man City's game against Liverpool. That game coming up tomorrow and what a game it is set to be. So, they're level on 15 points as it stands at the top. Frank is still with us. Once again, Arsenal's bench has got Mike Arteta out of trouble. He can really rely on how deep his squad is, can't he, Frank? >> Yes. Yes. Um but they they got a reaction but it's true that for an hour we didn't recognize the gunner. So maybe the international break maybe the loss before that uh made them doubt about their their quality and it took them an hour and a goal they conceded to to react. Uh but I I found the last half alpha hour very interesting in a way that you know with that Declan Rice you know you know that something's going to happen and the second goal what he does and and the assist that he gave to Bruno Gimares was absolutely fantastic but yeah I didn't recognize even Ka on the goal that he conceded didn't react very quickly he didn't cover his um white on the right side allowed the lead player to cross and the concept that we saw during the World Cup wasn't that type of player. So something is was maybe again in their heads awfully for them they they because of that goal that they conceded because of the the first hour they didn't play well you know it forced Arteta to change some players Bruno Garish is the guy who always come in come on and scores goals so it's good um to it he it pushed them to react and to do something as a as a the first contender for for for the title so so I think they back on track. Let's see how it works next game, but I think the last half an hour was encouraging uh for the Gunners. >> Yeah. Well, if that was encouraging, the first hour was was not. Uh they were just about to make the big they were just making all the subs or about to make them when when Califuri scored. So, it was almost like that that was a a gup uh because the three players were going to come on. The goal came about pretty much out out of nothing and James Trafford should have saved it. I mean, Califuri, he hits the target, but the keeper just I mean, he basically pans it in to his own net. And from that point, the game swung leads had a swagger about them. They they they weren't in control of the game, but they were in control of the narrative at one point. And they actually pressed Arsenal uh for for an hour or so. They didn't sit back. They when Arsenal when David Ry was playing it out they they weren't impressed because I think they felt that they were they were a little fragile that that Brighton result was sort of sort of hovering from before the international break and you could see a lead side that you know they're in the they've stayed up in the Premier League. They look a solid team. They're not they're not going to they're not going to be you know spellbinding in terms of the way they play. They know what they are. Uh but they're physical. they can play some quick stuff, but as soon as that goal went in, they sort of it ju it just turned for them. So, I think if you're asking me about Arsenal, I'd say unconvincing at the moment. Uh frustrating. Uh a little slow again in their their play, particularly in the first hour. Uh and I wouldn't look I don't look at Arsenal and think they're not getable this year. You know, we were looking around at the start of the year, what City are going to turn up, and that's another story. Uh what Liverpool going to turn up? What Chelsea going to turn up? who's going to put the title charge, who's going to take it to them, and we're still going to find that out. But it doesn't look to me as if Arsenal are going to leave everybody in the rearview mirror because there there certainly some flaws within their team and within their performances that Miketa has to work on. Uh because at this moment in time, they don't for all their signings, they don't look as solid. I know they've got some injuries. They don't look as solid uh and as capable as they did at this time last year. And I think that's good news uh for the rest. They're certainly still the strongest team and strongest squad, but they don't, you know, spell out to me we're going to run away with this league and nobody's got a chance of catching us. That's that's not quite how it's playing out at this moment in time. What a day Jordan Henderson had. Yeah, he's the oldest Chelsea player to be directly involved in three plus goals in a Premier League match and the oldest for any side since Cristiano Ronaldo against Norwich in 2022. 36 years old, the same age as you, Frank. What did you make of him today? >> I was very impressed, you know, and I'm impressed with Chelsea at the beginning of the game, you know, we we need to know the recipe for the warmer because they are absolutely fantastic for the first five minutes. But I'm with I'm with Craig, you know, uh if I was pleased with some players and and Jon Anderson the first because scoring two goals at 36 years old is quite amazing and and he still have the the stamina to to work very hard and to be very efficient. I I was with Craig at 3-1 was I was scared. I say, well, Bon's going to come back because you don't know what's going on with with Chelsea. Hopefully Pedro scored the fourth goal and it was game over and then we saw that fantastic free kick. But uh I'm not reinsured about Chelsea yet defensively. But to see what's what they are capable of doing offensively is still very helpful. So if they keep on scoring goal like that, yeah, it's going to be difficult for for for others to beat them. Uh especially if some players are coming back like Kaisedo with Anderson, I say it's good. Lavia as well. We had a very good game with Belgium. So it's growing up. I think he's getting better, but I need to be reinsured and I'm not yet there. >> Is Joe Pedro fit again and scoring has extended his contract. >> That annoys me, you know, that annoys me. You know, players like him with his talent, scoring goals in the Premier League, not going to a and that's a difference. I know I'm I'm off I'm off pie here. Not going to a World Cup because they want to take an overage has been >> player in Neymar. It's just ridiculous. If you're if I'm you know, we talk about players not going and playing for the country. You know, he's got every right you would think and I wouldn't I wouldn't condone this to stick two fingers up to Brazil or Calangelotti. That being said, we saw it last year. We saw it at Brighton. We've seen it again. He's a supremely talented young man. He's got every facet to his game. He's big, he's physical, he's got decent pace, he's got a great touch. Uh he can link the play up. Uh he works hard and he's and and he can finish. That's a pretty good recipe. uh as long as Chelsea use them properly and they've got the players around them which they have now and Cole Palmer and Morgan Rogers who played sort of these kind of hybrid roles in behind and that's exciting for Chelsea. It was in match day one at Fulham and it is now but I'm with Frank in a sense that it's it's difficult when a team wins 5-1 to to to pick it apart a little bit. But in between the really great start to the first half and the really great start to the second half, it was bookmarked with some some worrying stuff where Bournemouth dominated some of that a lot of those periods. And I think better teams may have punished them. So it I think Frank's absolutely right. It's a work in progress. It's a great result. Don't get me wrong. It's a work in progress, but there was large periods of this game that you felt Ryan had a couple of great chances. uh went through. Martinez made uh a couple of really good saves. So, this game hinged on a brilliant start either said either side of u of the first half and the second half which you have to be prepared for which Bournemouth were not and Chelsea were and a and a few missed chances from Bournemouth that could have swung this result much different to being it looked like a 5-1 walloping. It it wasn't. So, you know, good stuff from Chelsea. I think a lot still to go, but obviously their focal point is how do we get the balance right within the back three in the midfield to allow Palmer, Rogers, and Pedroto and and flourish and be what they are. If Chelsea get that side of it right, then those boys will go and do their business and they'll have a strong season. If they don't and they're fallible at the back, then other teams that are better than Bournemouth, who by the way have not won a game this year, will take advantage of that. >> An interesting run ahead. Everton away, Spurs at home, the AFL Cup round of 16 at Anfield against Liverpool, and then Manchester United at home. This is for Chelsea. >> Well, Everton are not great any great shakes and and Man United are not any great shakes. Look, Chelsea can play some good stuff, but there was certainly enough there today from a bowling side that haven't started particularly well under a new manager that would suggest that, as Frank said, that there's a a lot of work still to be done. But the pleasing thing for Jabby Alonzo, he hasn't got a winging Vinnie Vinnie Jr. He hasn't got Kelly and Bbappy all about me. He hasn't got these issues. He's got three frontmen that want to go and play for him and are playing well. He didn't have that at Real Madrid. So that's one thing Chabby Alonzo can be pleased about. >> Great stuff. That's how things are looking at the top half of the table. Brighton in third as it stands right now. Man City at the top of the table in first. Liverpool in seventh. Man City our favorites tomorrow at Anfield. With everything that's been going on in the background, now we get to see what the response is going to be. Frank, what are you thinking for tomorrow's game between Liverpool and Man City given what happened during the international break? >> Who knows? I really think that the players don't really care. They're going to play. They are professional players and they they're not guilty for anything because most of the players weren't there when it happened. So, so and even I was thinking all the players. So, so they're going to do what they have to do. They're going to work. They they they first in the league. If they win, they're going to be three points ahead of of Arsenal. So, they're going to try to do something. And it's always uh something special against against Liverpool. Uh on on Liverpool side, you have to confirm that you are getting better if even if we know that they are far away from where they were. But uh it's going to be very interesting. It's going to be an open game. um if Manchester City uh lose tomorrow, oh, everybody's going to say it's because of the uh the 114 charges, you know, uh and because the players are very worried, but I don't think so. I think it's you have to put that aside. The players going to do the job and there is nothing to do uh with that and and the problem that the city has right now. >> So, we we this sorry, I had this one with Stevie yesterday uh and and I said the same thing as Frank is you know, the players, you know, you got they're they're going to get supporters shouting at them and banners, you're cheats, you cheat, I don't see how that's going to affect the set of players. I just I just I just don't. And Stevie was trying to sell me on the and maybe he's right. I don't know. He was trying to sell me on the atmosphere and how that would come. The issue I've got is Liverpool as a team, not so much the supporters and how they will turn on Man City. Because I think if you're a Man City player, and I've always said this, the biggest issue when supporters turn on you is when your own supporters turn on you. That's when it really gets you in the stomach. >> I think when a when opposing, and we've all had it, you know, you go to an away ground, you get a lot of stick. I don't see how that's going to affect a Ryan Shery or an Ellie Anderson or an Elling Holland or a Ruben Diaz or Gigi Donaruma. I just I just don't. It's going to come down to the fact if City play better, they'll probably win this game. And we don't know what we're going to get from Liverpool. We don't know what we're going to get. What Barcol is going to show up about Florian Vvers? What about the balance in the team? We've got all these sort of questions. There's going to be banners. There's going to be stick. There's going to be people shouting at you when you get off a bus. But guess what? You get that most weeks anyway. These players cannot control the narrative around their football club at the moment. They cannot. And I felt sorry for Enzo Moresca been asked about it in the press conference because it's not on his watch. But what the players and he can control is how they play. And if they play well at this moment in time, they're a better team than Liverpool. And I think that's the big issue going forward. I would be surprised if any negativity that's going to come their way, and there'll be a lot, is going to affect how Man City play. And I would like to think if the result goes against them, they don't use that as an excuse because personally, I don't think it is an excuse. It's a distraction. That's all it is. >> Yeah. Big game to look back on on tomorrow's ESPNFC. Make sure to join us for it as we look back on what goes down at Anfield between Liverpool and Manchester City.