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00:00The atmosphere, the tension, the passion, you can just about reach out and touch it.
00:15It could change! Oh, it's in!
00:19Delirious! Star quality!
00:22A wonderful theatre. That is the premier league at its cost.
00:30This is just about as good as it gets. Everywhere you look tonight, there are superstars.
00:37It's a big game at the top of the premier league table.
00:40Sofalba stretching! And Ramsey tucks it home!
00:44It's him again! It's Mo Salah for Liverpool!
00:48Oli Watkins has raised Arsenal's advantage.
00:52It might come back through, wants Diaz, who can bottle it in.
00:55Here we go again. An occasion fit for the final.
00:58Highland is this the moment! Tire it is!
01:02Mbappe's free! And scores!
01:04Erling Haaland restores! Manchester City's lead!
01:08Raheem Diaz scores a priceless goal for Real Madrid!
01:12Bellingham coming in! Scores!
01:14The stage set for another thrilling contest.
01:17What a night of football to come on TNT Sports and Discovery Plus.
01:25We are live from Villa Park where Aston Villa, chasing the Champions League qualification spots,
01:31host the league leaders Liverpool who can stretch their lead over Arsenal to 10 points with a win tonight.
01:37And our team are also out in Spain for knockout to Champions League football.
01:44It's the second leg of the playoff between Real Madrid and Manchester City with the citizens needing to overcome a 3-2 deficit.
01:52Coverage of that one begins at 7 on TNT Sports 1.
01:55But we are focusing on events in the Midlands rather than Madrid in the company of Alan Hutton and Robbie Fowler.
02:05Good to see you both. And Robbie, the big games just don't let out for Liverpool at the moment.
02:09Well, this is where it's happening tonight. Forget all the Champions League, all the big games. This is the big game tonight.
02:14And yes, it's a great game for Liverpool. It's a great occasion. We know that.
02:18And a chance, as you say, to get 10 points clear. It will be difficult, though. We know that.
02:23Big opportunity for them to open up that 10-point gap tonight, Alan.
02:28Yeah, of course. But I think Aston Villa will have something to say about that.
02:32They're chasing their own targets. They're six points off fourths, so they want to keep pace with them.
02:35And they'll be looking for three points also. So I'm really looking forward to this game.
02:39Well, let's have a look at the team that Honour Slot has selected because he is going to be in the dugout this evening as we await the outcome of his FA charge.
02:48And he has made one change from the win over Wolves.
02:52And it's Curtis Jones. He's back from suspension and comes in.
02:56So Luis Diaz, Robbie, on the bench tonight. And Curtis Jones in there.
03:01Do you think it will be Curtis Jones starting on the left of that front three? Because there's various options.
03:06Yeah, look, the manager's come out and said already, look, he's got options.
03:09Obviously, McAllister can play there. Jones can play there.
03:11But the one who might probably play there just more for his energy would be Sobis-like.
03:16And maybe play Jones in the centre. But the manager's a manager because the reason that he sees these players all the time.
03:22He knows what they're capable of. And I'm sure you put any player out there wanting to do a job in a Liverpool shirt, they know what's at stake of course you do.
03:31But I think for me, I think more about the energy playing Sobis-like. The left might get there.
03:37Sobis-like has been good playing in the central role. So maybe that's gone into his thinking behind it as well.
03:41Are you surprised not to see Diaz in that line-up given he got his first goal in 2025 at the weekend?
03:48Yeah, I was just going to say that. I think it's nine goals for the season, but he's first at the turn of the year.
03:52So maybe he's wanting a little bit more from him or it's time for a rest.
03:56You know how difficult and thick and fast the games are coming, but they're all clever players.
04:00They'll be free to roam probably and move about, try and make it difficult for that Aston Villa defence.
04:04Well, we can have a look as well at the Aston Villa line-up because that's three changes from the draw with Ibswich.
04:11Tyrone Mings is starting at the back.
04:14Axel Dezazi is alongside him.
04:17Bubakar Kamara is injured and it is a first start for those January signings.
04:23Marcus Rashford is in. So is Marco Asensio from the start as well.
04:28Daniel Marlon and Jacob Ramsey drop to the bench. Is that a team, Alan, that Villa fans are going to be very excited about?
04:34I'm not going to lie. I'm excited to see this team.
04:36I mean, I think since Rashford Asensio has come in, we've seen them against Ipswich and Tottenham.
04:42And they've really lit it up. They've played with freedom.
04:44They were allowed to kind of roam and get into pockets of space and make things happen.
04:48I think Marcus has looked that he's got a little bit of a weight off his shoulder and the manager's just given him that confidence to go and play.
04:54So that's very attacking. I'm really looking forward to seeing them come up against a strong Liverpool team.
04:59They'll be trying to, as I said, get the three points as well.
05:02How strong is that starting line-up, Robbie? Is that a starting line-up that can compete with the best teams in Europe?
05:09I mean, you think it should do. Obviously, you know, we know who he is.
05:13He is a fantastic manager. We know how he is good in Europe and he wins games, he wins trophies.
05:18He's obviously come to Aston Villa and his record here is phenomenal. We know that.
05:22But now he's signed players in the January window to take Villa to a new level.
05:27We've seen the quality that Rashford's got. We've seen Asensio. We've seen him.
05:31And these players can change games. And I think Alan was alluding today with Rashford.
05:37There's less pressure on him now. And he's probably at a club now where he's going to be loved, whereas he's probably felt not loved at his other one.
05:43And it's a chance for him to really kickstart his career. And we all know he loves to score against Liverpool as well.
05:49So it's a big, big game for him.
05:51Yeah, he's had a couple of decent cameos. It's going to be interesting to see him from the start tonight.
05:55This is the third game in a run of five crucial matches for Liverpool over 15 days.
06:02And we can hear now from Ibrahima Kanate with Becky Ives.
06:06Well, Ibu, how are you? How's the team feeling? Let's do a little walk and talk here.
06:10After the Wolves game, what's sort of been the debrief and then the refocus for what is a really big week ahead?
06:16Yeah, for sure. This week and the day next to this day today will be so hard.
06:21But today we have to be focused against Villa because we know the quality of this team.
06:26And we know it will be so hard to play here. But we just have to be ready and give everything.
06:31Be careful. And yes, I know we played three days ago. We don't have a lot of rest.
06:40But this is Premier League and we have to be ready for this challenge.
06:43From a defensive point of view tonight, do you expect to be kept quite busy by the attacking throughout the Aston Villa now holes?
06:48Yeah, of course, of course. We know. We know that player. We know the quality of the striker of Villa, Watkins, Bailly, Rashford, a lot of names.
06:57But it's not only about these players. I think they have a very strong team and we know that and we just have to be ready to face them.
07:04Look at the elephant in the room. A ten point gap potentially could open up at the top of the table.
07:09Yeah, yeah. This is our target. This is our objective. And we know this will not be easy, but we have to give everything.
07:15And at the other hand, we will see where we are.
07:17Lovely. Ibu, thank you very much for your time. Good luck.
07:19Thank you so much.
07:21Yes, they have to be ready. They also have to try and stop Oli Watkins, who made history at the weekend.
07:27Alan, didn't he? Becoming Villa's top scorer in the Premier League of all time at Villa Park with 38.
07:34And he's now the undisputed main striker here. Do you think that's going to help him?
07:38Yeah, I think it is. He's overtaken Dwight York for scoring the 38 goals here at Villa Park.
07:43And I think that just shows you how consistent that he's been over the time that he's, since he's joined the football club.
07:48Last year, I thought he'd done really well scoring 19 and he's almost there. He's at 11 at this moment in time.
07:53But it's what the manager expects from him, not only goals, but it's to work hard.
07:58And I think that was the difference between him and the likes of John Duran.
08:01He lights up really well with Rodgers, with Ramsey.
08:04And now tonight it's going to be the likes of Ascensio that's playing him in.
08:07Rashford off that left-hand side. So he makes really clever runs in behind.
08:11I mean, Robbie will tell you more than I will, but he makes really smart movements.
08:14He's always moving. He's always making it difficult for defenders.
08:17And he finishes. I mean, that's the main thing as well.
08:19Is it a striker's dream, Robbie, the players he's got around him now?
08:23Absolutely. We spoke before about Rashford Ascensio coming in.
08:26But you forget the brilliance of obviously Morgan Rodgers and particularly Olly Watkins.
08:31Who Alan just said, he scores great goals. He links up play very, very well.
08:36And he's probably one of the top players in the Premier League at the minute.
08:39Did you really like the competition when you were playing?
08:42Or is it better to know that you are just the out-and-out number one?
08:46No, you want to know you're number one.
08:47I mean, it's good to have competition.
08:49But it's better other people thinking you've got competition.
08:51You want to play. You want to be the main man.
08:53And yeah, you've got to focus on yourself.
08:55But it is good from a club point of view.
08:57Because we know obviously the brilliance of the front four of Villa have got now.
09:01And you still want to be that main man. You do. You really do.
09:06Alan, does he need to take more of his chances though,
09:08if they're going to qualify for the Champions League?
09:10Yeah, look, I think this season that's probably been labelled on him.
09:14Maybe not as clinical as last season.
09:17But I think from a striker's point of view,
09:20as long as you're in the right areas of the pitch and you're getting the service,
09:23look, it happens.
09:24The strikers go through little spells where they'll miss.
09:26But the confidence is still there. He's still more than capable.
09:29So keep making the runs, getting into the right areas and it'll come.
09:32And Robert, you loved playing against Aston Villa.
09:3514 goals in just under five years against them,
09:38including a hat-trick. Do you know why you loved playing them so much?
09:42Yeah, I mean, well, I don't really.
09:44But I think it's just one of my lucky clubs.
09:46I think what a catch that was.
09:48I think, yeah, I mean, as a player you sort of go through your career
09:51and you sort of have the sign of a particular club.
09:55I mean, I've scored lots of goals against Arsenal and also against Villa
09:58when obviously Villa were top.
09:59So Villa, when I played against them,
10:01were probably reminiscent to the Villa now.
10:03We were maybe on the periphery of being brilliant.
10:06But I think the beauty of my goals, I think,
10:10a lot of them were maybe taken early or taken when the keeper weren't expecting it.
10:13So I mean, I did try in most games, but they always seem to come off against Villa.
10:19Robert, did you ever get a feeling where you go to certain stadiums?
10:23Do you know what I mean?
10:24And you just felt more comfortable, even if it was an away ground?
10:26Yeah, I mean, as a kid, I always loved playing in big stadiums.
10:29So I always felt this was a brilliant stadium because I always think of the FA Cup
10:34and the semifinals were always played at Villa Park.
10:36So I always associated Villa Park with like brilliant grounds
10:40and, you know, a brilliant, brilliant place to play football.
10:42And I wanted to play in the best places and go goals in the best places.
10:46I'm not saying I tried harder, but it worked.
10:48Eleven of them against Mark Bosnish.
10:50You must have been sick of the sight of you, I'm sure.
10:52Yeah, no, he didn't like me much, did he?
10:54All right.
10:55Well, it's going to be, I'm sure, a brilliant atmosphere here tonight.
10:58At Villa Park under the lights where Unai Emery's side have had some special nights
11:04and are incredibly tough to beat.
11:09Villa Park has certainly sparkled this season.
11:12There's been no place like home for Unai Emery's men.
11:15Duran from a distance has scored a stunner.
11:19A world-class finish has just lit up Villa Park.
11:24It's one of Aston Villa's great nights.
11:26Now Cash, who makes it three.
11:29The Villains are tearing Brentford apart.
11:32It's Rodgers.
11:34It's 2-0.
11:35The champions beating at Villa Park.
11:38It marks enough and he picks someone out.
11:40He can.
11:41Villa back ahead.
11:43And now it's Ramsey.
11:44Watkins is on the line.
11:463-2 Villa.
11:47There won't be many teams who fancy a trip to Villa Park.
11:59This program is sponsored by Bet365.
12:11Hello there.
12:12Welcome to Madrid on what is actually becoming a bit of an annual occurrence.
12:16Real Madrid against Manchester City in the Champions League in a knockout tie for the fourth season in a row.
12:22One of these teams will be going home tonight.
12:24Which one will it be?
12:25It's a huge game here in the Spanish capital.
12:28Make sure you join us for all the build up.
12:30We start at 7 o'clock on TNT Sports 1.
12:34Thank you, Reshman.
12:35Well, events here at Villa Park and in Madrid headline at the evening.
12:39But we've also got three other knockout phase playoff second legs and the highlight show tonight at 10.30.
12:46All exclusively live across TNT Sports and Discovery Plus.
12:53Well, it may not feel like it but we are heading into spring and a new ball is making its debut tonight.
12:59And it's the final ball in the 25-year partnership with Nike.
13:03And guys, it's a bit of a throwback this one.
13:06It's basically inspired by the total 90s balls used between 2004 and 2006.
13:14Does it make you feel nostalgic?
13:16You've got to love it.
13:17I mean, I even remember when I came down south in, what, 2008.
13:21Now, it was a different version but it was similar.
13:23So, it brings back good memories and also for yourself, I'd imagine.
13:26Yeah, I mean, a ball is a ball and, I mean, they're round and they probably fly a certain way.
13:32I can confirm it is round.
13:34Yeah, but it is one of them.
13:35It's like at the start of the season when a new kick comes out, you're all excited.
13:38But when a new ball comes out, it's, oh, God, I'm going to get one of them.
13:41So, everyone likes a little bit of newness, whether it's a kit, whether it's a ball.
13:45And, well, we're developing the game still, aren't we?
13:48You must like this one as well, Robbie, because you scored your 150th Premier League goal
13:52with the high-vis version of this one for City against Norwich.
13:56Remember this one?
13:57I remember it very well, Linz.
13:59A very good goal, actually.
14:00I was happy with that.
14:01And, um, I do remember the ball.
14:03I think they are quite light when you strike through them as well.
14:06But that game, I mean, I scored two for that game.
14:08It ended up scoring a win in the last minute.
14:09But that game is more famous for a...
14:12Adelia?
14:13Adelia?
14:14A rant?
14:15Well, yeah, it could have been a rant, but it was a let's be having you.
14:18I can't believe that was 20 years ago, Alan.
14:21I couldn't believe it when I heard that.
14:23Time flies, I suppose, when you're having fun.
14:25But it makes you feel that little bit older also.
14:27Because I thought it was just maybe five, six years ago to hear 20.
14:30Wow.
14:31I still look the same as well.
14:33I'm quite happy.
14:34I thought some would be just a couple extra pounds here and there.
14:36But other than that, I'm all right.
14:38On your head, Alan.
14:39I'm only joking.
14:40Well, Robbie, as I'm sure you well know, Alan Hutton, bit of a cult hero in these parts as well.
14:46The Scottish Cafu played over 200 games for Aston Villa, knows this place absolutely inside out.
14:53So he was the perfect man to send along to have a chat with his former teammate John McGinn yesterday.
15:02You've come a long way since we've played together and obviously the championship.
15:05Now you're riding high, Champions League.
15:08It's been some journey for you.
15:09John McGinn there enjoying his chat with the Scottish Parkinson.
15:15And we're delighted to say as well that Amadou Winona has come up for a chat to us.
15:21Good to see you, Amadou.
15:22Good to see you too.
15:23Thank you for having me.
15:24Good to see you.
15:25How's the injury anyway?
15:26How's the thigh?
15:27Yeah, getting there.
15:28A couple more weeks, I think.
15:29But I've been putting in some work and hopefully getting back soon.
15:33And we just saw as well, Alan, having a chat with John McGinn in the dressing room.
15:37What's his personality and leadership like in that dressing room?
15:40Is it still annoying?
15:41Is it?
15:42You can tell.
15:43Is it still annoying?
15:44I can't say that.
15:45He's my captain.
15:46Oh, come on.
15:47But yeah, no.
15:48Really, really fun guy.
15:49He's welcomed me and the new boys really, really well.
15:52Always up to a little joke here and there.
15:54But yeah, we just love him.
15:55We love him.
15:56We love him.
15:57And what's your verdict on his fashion sense as well?
15:59Because he's saying he's always in shorts.
16:00Doesn't matter what the weather and everyone else is putting him to shame with their style.
16:04Can't say much about it.
16:05It's really different to mine.
16:07But yeah, as long as he's comfortable in it, that's all that matters.
16:10And looking at the team tonight, it's the first start for Marcus.
16:14It's the first start for Asensio as well.
16:16Just how much are you looking forward to being back out there in that team with the attacking options that are on display now?
16:23I'm definitely having a little bit of FOMO because it's been really fun to watch them.
16:28Like I said, we've been building the team, adding new players, top players.
16:32It's healthy to, yeah, to compete for spots in the start in XI.
16:37I think they're adding a lot to this team and it's a joy to watch, honestly.
16:40Amadou, what was the feeling in the dressing room?
16:43The January transfer window, you were seeing these names being linked.
16:46Is that just showing you where the club really want to go to?
16:49Definitely.
16:50I think it speaks a lot for the club.
16:52I think the ambition is, you know, to get to the top.
16:55And you need these type of players with a lot of experience.
16:58Marcus and Marco, you know, playing at the highest possible level.
17:02So, yeah, like I said, it's a really, really positive thing for all of us.
17:05John was saying as well that it's quite scary when the manager shouts,
17:09but he says he's not here to waste his time.
17:12Yeah.
17:13He wants to win things.
17:14Just how ambitious is he and how does he transmit that to you?
17:18I think I can't describe it.
17:19I think you need to actually be in the locker room to understand what John meant there.
17:22But he says it.
17:23He said it a couple of times.
17:24I'm not here to waste my time.
17:25Obviously, when you know he's Palmers, all the trophies he's won.
17:29Obviously, he's a very ambitious man.
17:31And, yeah, he gives us, you know, that extra bit, you know, to be confident,
17:35have the confidence to go out there and play at, yeah, at the best of our abilities.
17:40And I asked John about the team meetings.
17:44Are you a fan of the team meetings as well?
17:46Yeah.
17:47I think, yeah.
17:48As long as you're winning.
17:49As a player, you know what it's like.
17:51I think we're not big fans, but obviously we need that because it's working for us out there.
17:56And like I said, he's really focused on the details because for him, they made a difference.
18:01And like I said, it's been working for us in the past couple of weeks.
18:04So, yeah.
18:05That battle for the European spots, it's so tight, so intense this season.
18:10There's just seven points between Man City and fourth down to Brighton in tenth.
18:15Where do you see Villa's place in that?
18:18Do you feel you can do it?
18:19Can you get there again?
18:20I think when you look at this team on paper, we definitely can do it.
18:24I think we just need to, yeah, stay consistent, try and win as many games as we can.
18:30Obviously, like I said, the new boys are coming in.
18:32It's a new structure.
18:33They have to adapt first.
18:34You need to give them time.
18:35But yeah, with the squad we have, I'm pretty sure that we can make that happen.
18:39Is it something you speak about in the changing room between the boys?
18:44Is that your ambitions and goals?
18:46Yeah, I think you speak about it within the team because everyone here wants to see the team doing well.
18:53Everyone here wants to win, you know, really ambitious boys as well.
18:57But yeah, we don't put pressure on ourselves.
19:00We just try and get out there, put on the best performance we can have and just enjoy it.
19:06And there's a lot of possibility there still with this season as well with the FA Cup, with Cardiff and also that Champions League draw on Friday.
19:15How excited are you to see the next opponents?
19:17Oh, really, really excited.
19:19I feel like for me the couple of, yeah, last weeks I've been quite frustrating.
19:23So that is definitely something to look forward to.
19:26Amadou, thank you so much for coming out to join us.
19:28Thank you for having me.
19:29And get yourself one of those heated g-lays.
19:31Oh, yeah.
19:32I know that.
19:33You didn't see that one before.
19:34It's the little secret.
19:35I'll take that.
19:36I'll take that.
19:38Great to see you.
19:39Thanks for having me.
19:40Thank you so much.
19:41Thank you very much.
19:42Thanks a lot.
19:43Good news for the Villa fans as well.
19:45And this game last season was an absolute thriller with two late John Duran goals earning Villa a 3-3 draw.
19:53It's a fixture that rarely disappoints with 33 goals.
19:57That's almost five per match being scored in the last seven meetings here at Villa Parf.
20:03Let's hope we get a few more tonight.
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23:05Welcome back.
23:06Aston Villa versus Liverpool kicks off in around 30 minutes.
23:10And this hasn't been a great tie for the home side with just one win in their past 14 games against Liverpool.
23:17Although that was that unforgettable 7-2 victory.
23:21Well, let's check in with the teams now.
23:24Starting with Villa, three changes for them.
23:26Tyrone Mings is in at the back for the injured Kamara.
23:29Marcus Rashford makes his first Premier League start for Villa.
23:33His first start, in fact, for any team.
23:37Marco Asensio also makes his first start with Marlon and Ramsey dropping to the bench.
23:43And it's one change for Liverpool.
23:45Curtis Jones back from suspension.
23:47He is in with Luis Diaz on the bench.
23:50Watch the Reds go again on a Wednesday night after a week of twists and turns in the title race.
23:56The Merseyside derby, the last one in the Premier League here at Goodison Park.
24:02Beto's got a chance and Beto scores!
24:05McLeanson headers in.
24:07It's Alexis McAllister.
24:09Mo Salah for Liverpool.
24:11It's Tom Goddick!
24:12Absolutely unbelievable!
24:17Arsenal's title hopes are on the line with 14 games left to play.
24:22Good chance, 1-0!
24:24And across it to Marino for the game.
24:26He's got another one!
24:27Three points for Arsenal.
24:29The Goals are going to close the gap on Liverpool at the top.
24:33Liverpool currently have a four-point lead.
24:38A day where they haven't really hit top form.
24:40But Liverpool are two goals up.
24:44Kunyak taking it on, working the air goal.
24:46Beautiful!
24:49Liverpool underwhelming, but they're seven points clear.
24:58So the gap is at seven points with Liverpool and Arsenal both now having played 25 each on a slot side.
25:06Can make it ten points tonight.
25:10And it's a huge week for Liverpool as well because after Aston Villa tonight, it's Manchester City away and then Newcastle at Anfield after that.
25:20Robbie, if they were to get nine points from those three games, do you think that would have them on the brink?
25:25Of course it will be.
25:26I think football is...
25:29I mean, we all know how funny it is at times.
25:31I mean, results are what it's all about.
25:34The results last week were very, very good for Liverpool.
25:36I know people made a big thing.
25:37Oh, they've lost a game against Everton last minute.
25:39They should have won.
25:40But, you know, they've got a point.
25:41So they went from six points to seven clear.
25:44Which, for me, that's a positive.
25:46They had a great win at the weekend against Wolves.
25:48You know, OK, it was nervy.
25:50It was uncomfortable.
25:50But it was a great win.
25:52And you say, the next game, City, Newcastle.
25:54If they put good performances in, it doesn't matter as long as they get the three points.
25:59If they get the three points, then it puts them on the realms of the closeness of what they really need to be.
26:04The club, they've been by far the most consistent team this year.
26:07We know that.
26:08But, you know, there's some big, big games coming up.
26:10We know that.
26:10Yeah.
26:11As Robbie said, Alan, they've got that win against Wolves.
26:13In the second half, though, they didn't have an attempt on goal, though.
26:17Do you think they are having a bit of a wobble when it comes to the performances?
26:21It's something that you don't normally think about when you talk about a Liverpool team not having a shot.
26:26And any half of football, it's quite crazy.
26:29But I think, from their point of view, sometimes you have to win ugly.
26:33I mean, you're not going to play at the best of your ability for every single game all the way through a campaign.
26:38So, to get through that game, get the three points and move on to this, which is going to be a tough test.
26:42There's no getting away from that.
26:44Every game is going to be difficult.
26:46But showing that they can win games different is a good character for them.
26:50And this is the point where people start to ask as well, is the pressure going to get to them?
26:55Like, how big a part is mentality at this point?
26:57I mean, mentality is huge in football.
26:59We know that.
26:59The attitude and the desire from the team has got to be spot on.
27:02But there's no pressure on Liverpool.
27:04Liverpool are where they are because they've been the most consistent team all season.
27:08The pressure is on Arsenal.
27:09It's on the teams catching Liverpool.
27:11Liverpool know that if they match Arsenal, they are going to win the Premier League.
27:14They're in a good position.
27:16You know, they've got to lose two games, you know, for Arsenal to get anywhere near them.
27:20Again, so it's not over.
27:22We know.
27:23But Liverpool are in such a good position and huge favourites.
27:26But all the pressure is not on Liverpool.
27:28For me, it's on Arsenal.
27:29Yeah, they've got a very nice cushion, that is for sure.
27:32No Gakpo, though, at the moment.
27:35Could it be a problem, the sort of over-reliance on Mo Salah?
27:40Yes, of course it can be.
27:41I think we've said that many times this season.
27:43I think the over-reliance on Mo, you know, his goals, his assists,
27:47and his all-round performances have been, you know, outstanding.
27:49We know that.
27:51But there becomes a point when someone has to come out and help him.
27:54You know, someone has to score goals.
27:55Someone has to be that, you know, that pivotal and that main man.
27:58Because we hope we don't want any injuries.
28:01But Mo Salah is that player who plays all the time.
28:06So, I mean, God knows what would happen if he was to miss any games.
28:09Yeah, I mean, the biggest thing for Arsenal, I think, tonight,
28:11is you see some of these goals, some of his movement.
28:14He's very difficult to stop.
28:15And you see, year after year, the numbers that he's putting up.
28:18Me, as a full-back, you'd be having nightmares last night
28:21thinking about this one.
28:22But if you switch off for a second, he's in behind you.
28:26You want to show him in the pitch to bodies.
28:27But if you do that, he's got the ability to just curl it round
28:30and use you as a shield to hit the back of the net.
28:33I mean, he's been an absolute superstar this season.
28:35You just think of the numbers and how much he's contributed to this team.
28:39It's quite incredible.
28:39Yeah, 37 goal involvements this season.
28:42The record in a 38-game season is 44.
28:46It just feels like he's going to smash that record
28:48and have an all-time individual Premier League season.
28:51Look, we wouldn't be surprised.
28:52Because I think ever since Mo has been in the Premier League
28:54and certainly ever since he's been at Liverpool,
28:57he has a man who's got record after record.
28:59And this is probably why he plays the game.
29:02He loves the game.
29:02We know that.
29:03He scores goals.
29:04But he looks to me as though a man he wants to beat
29:06every single record going.
29:08And while he keeps delivering,
29:09the conversation is going to keep coming up
29:11about that contract, Alan.
29:13But all of this only helps the negotiations.
29:16Yeah, of course it does.
29:17When you have one of the best seasons,
29:18of course it's going to help.
29:19But for me, it's a no-brainer.
29:21I mean, the amount of money that you're going to have to spend
29:23to replace him,
29:24and it's always going to be a risk.
29:26But I just think he's a guy who's very robust.
29:28He looks after himself.
29:29He can see that in his physique.
29:31That he can play for a number of years.
29:33Absolutely no problem at this level.
29:34So we'll see how it goes at the end of the season.
29:37They absolutely, Robbie, do you think,
29:39have to get that signature on the paper?
29:41I think so.
29:42I mean, remember when Solskjaer was signing a contract
29:45that, you know, Manchester United and Rio Ferdinand,
29:48give him that contract.
29:49We're all doing that as Liverpool fans.
29:51Give Mo that contract.
29:52Get him signed.
29:53And Alan's spot on.
29:54To bring someone else in is a huge gamble.
29:57We know that.
29:57And we don't know if anyone will ever
29:59hit the numbers that he's sort of hit now.
30:02So it's an incredible, incredible reason
30:04why he's maybe not signed already.
30:06You talked about full-backs having nightmares
30:09playing against him.
30:10Who would you say was the better finisher?
30:12Alan Robbie?
30:13Oh, wow.
30:14Or Mo?
30:15Robbie.
30:15Yeah.
30:17No hesitation.
30:18Robbie, what would you say?
30:21Well, I'm biased, aren't I?
30:23I'm going to say me.
30:24To be fair, I wouldn't like to play against either,
30:26to be quite honest.
30:27I thought you were going to be humble there.
30:28No, no, no.
30:29Let someone else be humble.
30:31I'm fed up of being humble.
30:32Right.
30:33Maybe I need to come out and support myself
30:35a little bit more.
30:35You absolutely should.
30:36I should do.
30:37Champion yourself, Robbie.
30:39I would say 163 Premier League goals.
30:41I think you've got every right to do that.
30:43Right, guys, we're going to take a quick break now
30:45as we count down towards kick-off
30:46here at Villa Park.
30:48And when we come back,
30:49we're going to get the pre-game thoughts
30:51from both the managers.
30:53We'll hear from Arna Slott and Unai Emery.
30:55We'll hear from Arna Slott and Unai Emery.
31:01We'll hear from Arna Slott and Unai Emery.
31:03We'll hear from Arna Slott and Unai Emery.
31:07This program is sponsored by Bet365.
31:11We'll hear from Arna Slott and Unai Emery.
31:22We'll hear from Arna Slott and Unai Emery.
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36:01Welcome back.
36:02It's an exciting and decisive doubleheader
36:04on TNT Sports and Discovery Plus
36:06tonight with Manchester City's quest
36:08to turn things around against Real Madrid
36:10over on TNT Sports.
36:12We've got some big team news in that one as well
36:14because Erling Haaland is on the bench tonight.
36:17Omar Marmouche up front.
36:19And our focus here is on Aston Villa
36:21against the league leaders.
36:23Arna Slott got the better of Unai Emery
36:25back in November with a 2-0 win at Anfield.
36:28But who is going to prevail in this one?
36:30We can hear from both the managers now.
36:32They've been speaking to Becky Ives.
36:35Unai, first starts tonight for Marco Asensio
36:38and Marcus Rashford as well.
36:39How much of an impression have they made
36:41in such a relatively short space of time
36:43that tonight they get their starts?
36:46Good evening.
36:46Yes, they're starting today
36:49and of course hopefully they can help us
36:52like they are doing.
36:53Progressively getting better, adapting of us
36:55and of course today a good match for them as well.
36:58Arna, just the one change for your squad tonight.
37:01Luis Diaz on the bench, Curtis Jones coming back.
37:05Is that a bit of game management
37:06with what's to come in the next couple of weeks?
37:08No, there's more to do with what has happened last week.
37:11So we played, Lucho played in seven days,
37:14three games because I decided to play him
37:18against Plymouth because I knew Cody was fit.
37:22But now with Cody being out,
37:23he had to play three games in seven days
37:25and now today again and Sunday again
37:28and Wednesday again.
37:29Another new, well, relatively new partnership
37:31at the back there.
37:32Is that making your life more difficult
37:34when there is so many injuries in that back line?
37:36But we have players injured
37:38and of course today we have those central back
37:41and hopefully they can connect
37:44or they can be both succeeding
37:48like we are working
37:49and of course with their capacity,
37:52their strong qualities as well
37:54as a defensive player.
37:56And then collectively how we can
37:58try to play personality with our,
38:01with that, try to dominate,
38:03try to play, keep in ball possession,
38:06starting with the goalkeeper
38:07and with the central back.
38:08What improvement or what would you like
38:11to see performance-wise
38:12from your side tonight
38:13compared to the last game?
38:15Very difficult match,
38:17tough match,
38:18but it's a really huge challenge
38:19and I want to watch
38:22how we are responding
38:23against Liverpool.
38:24Now I think it's the best team
38:25in the world,
38:26in Champions League,
38:27in Premier League
38:27and of course they are really
38:29playing fantastic,
38:31fantastic football,
38:32very competitive team,
38:33but today our challenge
38:34is really there on the field.
38:35What is Villa's biggest threat
38:37tonight for you?
38:39Always the players,
38:40the quality players they have,
38:42so they brought in a few
38:43during the winter break
38:45and I think Unai thinks
38:48and I think he's right
38:50that these players are ready to start,
38:52so they showed that last week.
38:54Rashford was fantastic
38:55when he came in,
38:57yeah, with Asensio in,
38:58yeah,
38:58but it's normal
38:59if you play Premier League,
39:00you always face offensive threat
39:02from every opponent,
39:04we face that against Wolves,
39:05with Cunha and all the others,
39:06so we're facing that today,
39:08tonight,
39:09again,
39:09with some great individual players.
39:13And they face a big offensive threat
39:15from Villa tonight,
39:16Asensio starts tonight,
39:18so does Marcus Rashford
39:20as well as first start for Villa.
39:22What have you made of him
39:23in the couple of sub-appearances
39:25he's made, Robbie?
39:26He's been sensational,
39:26he really has,
39:27he's probably the player
39:28that we've probably seen
39:29Marcus Rashford coming in
39:30when we've seen him
39:31as a young kid,
39:31comes in,
39:32he tries to make the game,
39:34you know,
39:34stretches the opposition,
39:35you know,
39:35he's good at the ball,
39:37he moves,
39:37he's quick,
39:38he's a talented,
39:39talented player,
39:40and for whatever reason
39:40went wrong at Manchester United,
39:41we don't really know
39:42behind the scenes
39:43what happened,
39:44but when Marcus Rashford
39:45is on top of his game,
39:46there's not many better players
39:47playing,
39:48and we all know
39:49he's probably playing
39:49in his favourite position
39:50now as well,
39:51which is obviously
39:52certainly going to benefit
39:54Aston Villa.
39:55I mean,
39:56you've seen him there
39:56in the warm-up,
39:57the biggest thing for me,
39:58the smile on his face,
39:59that tells you a lot,
40:00you need to be happy
40:01where you're at
40:02and where you're playing,
40:02but he plays with a freedom
40:04since he's got here,
40:05I think we've seen it
40:06in this first cameo
40:07and then Ipswich,
40:08I thought he'd taken it
40:09to another level,
40:10he's very direct,
40:11he wants to take his opponent on,
40:13but not only that,
40:13he's got the quality,
40:14you see here,
40:15he's got one thought
40:16in his mind,
40:16I'm going to take on
40:17my full-back,
40:18I'm going to keep going
40:19because I've got that
40:19confidence now,
40:20and he's trying to pick
40:21somebody out,
40:22so he's got all the qualities,
40:23it's just about that
40:26So some changes up front
40:28for Villa tonight,
40:29also again at the back as well,
40:31Kamara's injured,
40:32so Tyrone Mings
40:33is coming back
40:34into that back line,
40:35Alan,
40:35that's the fourth
40:36different centre-back partnership
40:37in the last four Premier League games
40:39for Aston Villa,
40:40they obviously haven't won
40:41in any of those four games,
40:43do you think that chopping
40:44and changing
40:45is adding to
40:46the inconsistency?
40:48For me personally,
40:49it doesn't help,
40:49I think if you look at
40:50the Premier League so far
40:51this season,
40:52they've only had three
40:52clean sheets,
40:53so it kind of tells you a lot,
40:55but I think injuries
40:56dictates what the manager
40:57is going to do,
40:58that's a huge part of it,
40:59but when I was playing,
41:01I always wanted
41:01to settle back for,
41:02because you build relationships
41:04with whoever's playing next to you,
41:06you know what they're going to do,
41:07if I was going to go forward
41:08and attack,
41:08I know I'm going to receive the ball,
41:10so for these guys,
41:11it's about playing together
41:13as one,
41:13as a unit,
41:14and they've just not quite
41:16had that consistency this year.
41:17Yeah, absolutely,
41:18you've got Matakash
41:19back on the bench
41:21tonight as well,
41:22but they do need to start getting,
41:24like Alan said,
41:24a settled back line.
41:26Yeah,
41:27it's the consistency,
41:28and I think that's football
41:29in a nutshell,
41:29you know,
41:30if you're a consistent team,
41:31you win games,
41:32you'll draw games,
41:34but that's what football
41:35is all about.
41:37I mean,
41:37Aston Villa,
41:38we talk about De Zazia
41:39and obviously Mings
41:39playing centre-halves
41:40and people saying
41:41they've never played together,
41:42the front lads have never
41:43played together as well,
41:44so,
41:44you know,
41:45if you swing it round,
41:46you know,
41:46we're expecting them
41:47to score goals
41:48and go and be an handful
41:49and, you know,
41:50change games,
41:51so why can't we think
41:52that with the defenders as well?
41:53And I get the,
41:54that's a good point,
41:55I get the,
41:55oh,
41:56you need to be stable
41:56at the back.
41:57I'm thinking as a defender,
41:58you're thinking as an ex-apcom.
41:59Yeah,
42:00absolutely,
42:01definitely.
42:02Well,
42:02Unai Emery said
42:03that Liverpool,
42:03the best team
42:04in the world
42:05at the moment,
42:06so what a massive challenge
42:07it is going to be tonight
42:09and these fans are ready,
42:10the atmosphere building nicely
42:12here inside Villa Park
42:14and they've already beaten
42:15Bayern Munich
42:15and Manchester City
42:17at home already.
42:19Villa looking to boost
42:20their Champions League
42:21qualification hopes
42:22by winning against Liverpool.
42:24For the Reds,
42:25they can open up
42:25a ten-point lead
42:27over Arsenal.
42:28We'll have kick-off
42:29coming next.
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