"NEVER BE SCARED" Ian Rush's RALLYING CRY to Bradley Barcola and Liverpool players

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Ian Rush on Liverpool: Wirtz needs time and Barcola must not fear missing

talkSPORT interviews Liverpool legend Ian Rush about Liverpool's recent form, the Brighton game, managing young players, the Wirtz debate, Barcola's finishing and the season ahead. Rush is broadly optimistic but says there is still room to improve, with Champions League qualification the realistic target and backing for Wirtz and Barcola.

Liverpool legend Ian Rush speaks to talkSPORT about Liverpool's current form and future improvements. Subscribe: https://youtube.com/c/talkSPORT?subconfirmation=1 🏆 Ready to win? Check out the latest prizes at talkSPORTwin.com Enjoyed this YouTube video? 😍 🖥️ talkSPORT's Website: https://talksport.com/ 📲 talkSPORT's X/Twitter: https://x.com/talkSPORT 📷 talkSPORT's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/talksport/?hl=en 👤 talkSPORT's Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/talkSPORT/ 📱 talkSPORT's Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@talksport ? 🔴 Download the talkSPORT app HERE! - https://talksport.com/apps/ 🔎 Want to see if you feature on our YouTube channel? Check out our Best talkSPORT callers playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLFVMnSsi04LGLa9pS9xDvme-Gjmlu2 talkSPORT PremierLeague

Transcript

Right, big game this weekend, Liverpool against Brighton. Really looking forward to that. It's on Sunday at 2:00. It will be part of game day live and I'm delighted to say that we have got a proper Liverpool legend joining us now. Um 346 goals, 660 appearances across two spells, five league titles, two European Cups, scored three in three FA Cup final wins, 28 goals in 73 caps for Wales. Ladies and gentlemen, it is Ian Rush. Hello Ian. Hi guys, you okay? >> Very good. Uh thank you. Cheers for uh for joining us. Um obviously first of all before we start uh you've uh you've also provided another uh decent shot on target. You're launching a a whiskey. Is that right? >> Yeah, that's right. Yeah, it's um it's a Welsh whiskey. Um first of all, I got I asked an Irish whiskey would I do it, but Wales got in touch with me and Pandaran got in touch with me. So being Welsh, it's a no-brainer. >> Yeah. 9-year Tory port finish. Pendering whiskey. Um, as as as partial to a little drram ourselves, just explain to us what it tastes like and what's the inspiration? >> Well, basically it's like smooth with rich fruit and warm and spices. It's out of a port cast. So, it's in a way it's like a port whiskey and that makes it different. So, um, try it yourself and you and see. >> Okay, we'll do that. Um, in terms of Liverpool, uh, obviously decent victory this weekend this week in the Champions League. A thrilling football match. Actually, I went to Austria with them last week. There's a lot of, uh, goals being scored in in in Liverpool's game. Are you optimistic about the start that Andonia has made? >> Yeah, I think they've done okay. There's still a lot to more to be done and all that, but uh you know when you go to places like Bournemouth and Brenford thinking it's going to be difficult and you know we we won both away games. It's most probably the home games now where we haven't won in the Premier League at home. So hopefully this weekend we can do it. >> Uh tough game against Brighton though. They're in great form. >> Oh fantastic. I'm I'm not I think they're the top scorers and they've let the fewest in, haven't they? So, I think it's going to be um an amazing game, but like me, they're coming to Anfield. We've got something to play for and hopefully we can get off with a win. >> Ian, as a striker um one of the best strikers um in in football yourself, how important is it for Inga Moa to keep getting past his fullback and putting in early crosses for the likes of Isak and also Echitique when he's back? >> Yeah, I think it's important. So, I think in midweek he's much probably without doubt man of the match. You know, he's fantastic. He's only 18 years old, you know, and he got two assists in midweek. So, he's got to keep that going. But, we've got four games in 12 days. So, I think he had to manage his playing time as he's only 18. But if he plays like he did on Wednesday, he's without doubt he's got to start this Sunday. >> Ian, where do you stand on the Florian Verts debate? Because um Jason Candi on this station has been quite strong. He says it's just not going to work out for Vertz in the Premier League. He's just not suited to English football. Would you push back on that on what based on what you've seen? >> Well, I think he's a very clever player. I think he just needed a bit of time. He's had a year last year to play in the Premier League and, you know, he he scored in the wid midweek. So, I think it's all about confidence, you know, and getting the confidence through that. And in a way, he's seeing things maybe too quickly and people are maybe not making that run and he's holding on to the ball too much. So, I think if I if I was him, I'd s say put the ball in the space and let the striker and they said, "Well, you should be in that space." So, but I think he's still got a lot help with Liverpool. >> As Liverpool's all-time record scorer and a Welsh icon, you know more than anyone about carrying the hopes of both shirts. When you watch Lewis Kumass, do you see a player ready to lead the line for club and country? >> Well, I think um Lewis is um fant his work rate is incredible. Um position wise, is he number nine? I'm not too sure because you need to hold the ball up a bit and everything, but I was talking to him in in preseason. I said, "Which is you think your favorite position?" And his response was anywhere. If Liverpool or Wales ask me to play at right back, I'll play at right back. And that's what you need. That's what you need. And um know with Liverpool and also especially for Wales, you know, I think it's more important for Wales. I think um it's again, it's just um getting to see what he do. But the the everyone at Liverpool love him because of the work rate he puts in. Um, listen, I grew up watching you some great strikers uh in the Premier League era and we used to be able to probably name 10 or 11 um number nines that were absolutely on top of their game. Nowadays, no one seems to want to be a number nine. Why Why has the the number nine gone out of fashion? And will it come back in fashion like the Tash? [laughter] >> Well, I I think it's you're right there. There's no one wants to be a number nine, but the hardest thing is football is to score a goal. You know, everyone wants to maybe want walk the ball in and all that, but for me, I'd like to tap one in just then and like like I did and when I was playing for Liverpool. So, it's getting to work as a team. The most important thing you work as a team where know D was helping me and he instead of shooting it passing me to tap in and all that. So, long as you work as a team, you know, I think people now don't want don't want to do that. They want to score spectacular goals. >> Talked about help. Ian Barola, I love him as a player. I loved him at um PSG for France as well, but he's always struggled with his finishing and he's done that in a few chances. The chance against Brenford where he runs through and he tries to dink the keeper and misses. How much work does he have to do on a training pitch and can some ex players, top strikers that the Liverpool have had help him? >> Well, I think that's down to the management at Liverpool, isn't he? You know, he's uh we all know he's a fantastic play. He's quick and everything and you just got to you just got to I think the most important thing is like for me when I was playing is and someone taught me never be scared to miss. No, I I can miss three or four but then at the fifth one will go in and everyone as a strike everyone forgets about the three or four that you miss. So it's it's got to be in the right place at the right time but never be scared to miss. >> Indeed. What would constitute a good season Ian do you think for Liverpool? Obviously another new manager in there still trying to get his own ideas across. what what is the realistic expectation? >> Well, Champions League you're looking at I think after these the next we've got like say um we've got Arsenal soon as well coming up in the league and and I think the Champions League and maybe you know if we can win a trophy uh but I think the Champions League to make the Champions League and I think over the next three or four games wherever we are in the league I think it's going it's going to be sort remain similar. Um, and just before we let you go, just a word on Wales. Craig Bellamy committing to Wales rather than going off to pastures new. Were you pleased to see that he uh put pen to paper and decided to stay for another couple of years? >> Yeah, I know Craig well. He's uh know he's very passionate about his country and everything. So, I'm happy. We've got a lot of work to be done with the with the squad and all that, but with the Euros coming up in Wales as well, I think it's uh it's good for everyone in Wales that we have Craig in charge. Finally, before we let you go, Manchester United in a bit of a pickle as someone who was part of a Liverpool team that was completely dominant do dominant and then saw them go for a period where they were struggling to win league titles. Is there even a little bit of you that feels for them? [laughter] >> Well, well, I'm Liverpool. Man United can do what they want to do. Like, so being a Liverpool fan, I'm more concerned about Liverpool than than Manchester United. >> I thought you would be. Ian, good luck over the weekend. Whiskey, by the way. Looking forward to tasting that. Um, that's Ian Russ. >> Let let me know you get on then. >> Oh, we will, dude. Don't worry. >> Send Send us some to the studio. >> Yeah, he's already sent it. The ref's got it. Have you not not seen it? >> Has he actually? >> Yeah. >> Well, it's no good for him. >> Yeah, [laughter] >> that's why we're going to t it. Thank you very much. Cheers, Rushy. Appreciate that. Ian Rush, who has developed his own whiskey, uh, which is good. And not only that, is uh, clearly optimistic about Liverpool's future under Andoniola.